OLDS, Alta. – Canadian cattle, sheep and goats could land on Asian soil by 2012.
Vietnam is the first Asian country to accept Canadian livestock since borders closed in 2003. The deal could be worth $50 million, said international trade minister Ed Fast in an Aug. 14 announcement at the Cole and Jill Harvie ranch near Olds, Alta.
“This is the first major break-through for Canadian cattle, sheep and goats in eight years,” he said.
Live animals have been banned since Canada discovered its first BSE case in 2003.
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Vietnam granted full access for beef from cattle of all ages in July 2010. This agreement would expand that to include all livestock.
Vietnam is considered a gateway to other markets like Indonesia and Malaysia.
Lynn Tait of OC Flock Management at Bowden and a member of the Canadian Livestock Genetics Association said work has been ongoing with Vietnam since 2006 to renew trade. In addition to livestock, Vietnam is looking for technical support to learn how to handle semen and embryos.
A delegation was scheduled to arrive in Canada Aug. 15 so they can visit dairy and goat operations in Ontario and then travel to Alberta to see sheep and beef ranches.
This part of Asia imports live dairy cattle, sheep and goats from New Zealand and Australia but wants to broaden its breeding pool of animals, said Tait.
