The discovery of a homegrown case of BSE in the United States is proof of what many Canadian cattle producers have believed for years, that the risk of BSE is equal in both Canada and the United States.
“I just wonder why it took so long,” said Walter Schmidt, a feedlot operator from Barrhead, Alta., of the announcement that an animal believed to be American-born had tested positive.
Schmidt’s question has been echoed across Canada by cattle producers since BSE was discovered in a Canadian cow more than two years ago.
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Cattle organizations on both sides of the border have said the Canadian and American cattle industry has been integrated for years with the same risk factors for the disease.
“Everybody knew it had to happen. It’s so inevitable,” said Don Curtice, an Innisfail, Alta., cattle producer.
While Canadians believed it was only a matter of time before American inspectors found a case of BSE, few can predict the impact on the reopening of the American border to Canadian cattle or the outcome of the R-CALF court case to keep the border closed.
“I think now that they have a homegrown case it should help us with the R-CALF case immensely,” said Schmidt.
“It shows it’s a North American problem.”
Gordon Graves of Iron River, Alta., echoed the sentiment.
“It’s good it came back positive. It clarifies that this is an integrated market,” said Graves, who believes the discovery gives Canadian producers a morale boost.
Alberta agriculture minister Doug Horner said the U.S. court is key to reopening the border.
“The courts have to run their course,” said Horner, but he admitted the discovery of BSE in an American cow was good news for Canadians.
“The light at the end of the tunnel just got a little bigger,” said Horner, who added Canadian cattle producers have survived longer than anyone would have believed when the border was closed after BSE was discovered in May 2003.
“I’m feeling very, very good about the resilience of our industry. We have what some may consider a stronger industry than we did,” said Horner.
Judy Fenton of Irma, Alta., hopes Canadian producers have learned they can no longer depend on the American packing industry and will go ahead with building slaughter plants in Canada.
“We need to be self-sufficient,” said Fenton, who also pointed to the need to move forward with traceability programs to ensure Canada has an edge over other countries in tracking animals back to herds of origin.
