Bales taken from low-lying slough land were the likely source of an anthrax outbreak that killed 10 cattle near Neilburg, Sask., last week.
Jim McLane, district veterinarian for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in North Battleford, Sask., said the remainder of the 250-head commercial herd has switched feed and is now under quarantine.
CFIA will vaccinate the herd twice over a two-week period once the frigid weather dissipates and then again in a year’s time.
McLane said feed was suspected because the disease is not usually seen in winter.
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The anthrax spores can live for decades in the ground, usually where a wild animal has died.
In this case, the farmer had baled potholed land not normally used for that purpose and had been feeding it to his cattle since November.
McLane said only one or two bales would have likely been contaminated. The cattle can eat the remaining bales without incident following their vaccinations, he said.
The cattle carcasses will be buried and the slough land will no longer be used for baling, he added.
This case was the first one McLane has seen in his district. He said such outbreaks are uncommon, but usually occur somewhere in Canada each year.
Associations representing veterinarians and stock growers have been notified, he said. The farm family and attending veterinarian have also been given antibiotics as a precaution.
None of the affected animals had left the farm.
George Luterbach, CFIA’s chief veterinarian of animal health for Western Canada, said there is low risk of anthrax spreading from animal to animal in the cold winter months and there is almost no risk to humans other than those in direct contact with the affected animals.
Anthrax in cattle results in a vascular or blood-related collapse, which leads to death, usually within three to 12 hours.
Luterbach said anthrax bacteria can transform into spores, which live in the environment for up to 100 years.
“It is out there at some low level in Canada.”
