The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging cattle producers in areas where anthrax has been a problem to vaccinate against the disease this spring before sending them to pasture.
“It affords very good protection,” said CFIA veterinary program officer Dr. Lynn Bates.
“On farms that have had anthrax, we recommend they vaccinate every year for a prolonged period of time.”
Dr. Gerald Hauer, Alberta’s assistant provincial veterinarian, said the decision to vaccinate for anthrax in Alberta is up to the farmer. He said his office doesn’t make blanket decisions about vaccinations, but recommends producers talk to their local veterinarian.
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“It depends on things like previous history of anthrax on the farm and anthrax in the area in previous years. It depends on things like the owner’s risk tolerance. If they’re very risk averse, they’d be more likely to vaccinate,” Hauer said.
In previous seasons only a handful of producers have asked Dr. Garry Butler about anthrax vaccinations.
After an outbreak about 40 kilometres from his Balmoral, Man., clinic last summer, producers are now asking about the vaccine.
“We certainly are recommending people in the south Interlake area vaccinate,” said Butler.
The decision to vaccinate won’t be easy, especially with low calf prices, he said. Some producers have chosen not to pregnancy check their cattle or vaccinate against bovine viral diarrhea in an attempt to save money.
“Vaccination is something they try to economize on,” he said.
Anthrax is not isolated to small pockets of the Prairies. In Manitoba, it has traditionally been common in the southeastern corner, but last year 74 animals died from the disease on 23 separate farms, most in the Interlake district north of Winnipeg.
Two animals died on two farms in Saskatchewan last year, which was down from an outbreak on 153 premises the year before. Seventy animals died in Alberta on four farms last year. Hauer said a smattering of anthrax cases occur every year.
Anthrax spores can live in the soil for years. Outbreaks are most commonly linked to severe weather that disturbs the soil or drought that cause animals to graze close to the ground. Deaths happen quickly without noticeable symptoms. Most animals are susceptible, but herbivores such as cattle, sheep and goats are especially susceptible.
Any anthrax deaths must be reported to CFIA.
