Canada’s cattle feeding sector is refining an emergency preparedness plan designed to guide feedlot owners in the event of disease outbreak or other disaster.
Alberta cattle feeders will initially test the plan, but the goal is to eventually turn it over to the National Cattle Feeders’ Association for use as a blueprint in other provinces.
Casey Vander Ploeg, manager of policy and research with the national association, said the plan will be a first for the sector and will attempt to address a variety of emergencies.
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“It’s not just disease, although that’s probably the scariest one. But what happens if a tornado blows through? That’s an example. Or flooding.”
Vander Ploeg said a committee comprising feedlot operators, industry representatives, emergency responders, the Canadian Food In-spection Agency and provincial governments have drafted a plan that lays out the steps to take during a crisis.
It outlines responsibilities of feedlot operators, lists measures to be taken and includes contacts and issues surrounding quarantine.
“It’s bringing all those partners together around how to manage that emergency and set out a plan, set all the steps out in case something happens,” said Vander Ploeg.
The draft was to be tested April 8 in Lethbridge. Feedlot owners and others planned to assume two or three scenarios and go through the plan to see if it adequately addresses them.
After that, the plan will be tested with the CFIA, provincial and federal government personnel, emergency responders and association staff.
