A three-year national study has been launched to chart the prevalence
and distribution of four production-limiting diseases in beef cattle.
Veterinarians across the country are conducting blood tests this fall
to pinpoint the incidence of leukosis, neosporosis, Johne’s disease and
bovine viral diarrhea. These diseases cause production losses through
diarrhea, abortions and weight loss.
“We do not have any national data that can be co-ordinated,” said Rob
McNabb of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.
“We are trying to get a thorough national perspective on it.”
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The study, which complements previous dairy studies that tracked
disease, will cost $800,000. Participants include the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency, University of Guelph in Ontario, provincial
governments and the Beef Cattle Research Council, an arm of the CCA.
British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario will provide 60
herds each while 100 herds in Atlantic Canada will be blood tested.
Quebec and Manitoba have already completed their collections.
The study will use standardized testing and diagnostic procedures.
Tests will be conducted over the next three years to measure
variability on a year-to-year basis.
“By the end of the third year we should have a good handle on things,”
McNabb said.
The study should provide information to grant disease-free
certification, and a set of standards to eliminate a disease.
While these diseases do not grab the kind of public attention that is
captured by reportable diseases such as foot-and-mouth, they are costly.
They often go undetected in carrier cows, which spreads infection.
Tests are needed to find those animals so appropriate measures can be
taken to free herds of disease.
Randomly selected producers will be contacted by mail and asked to
participate. All testing is confidential.
For further information, see the Canadian Animal Health Network’s
website at www.cahnet.org.
