Cattle producers near Riding Mountain National Park are thrilled that the Manitoba government will keep picking up some of the tuberculosis testing tab.
“We think it’s great,” said Manitoba Cattle Producers Association general manager Sheila Mowat.
“It shows that the government recognizes what these producers in the Riding Mountain Eradication Area are having to face – to continually test their cattle herds in order to ensure monitoring and eradication of the disease.”
Provincial agriculture minister Rosann Wowchuk announced Oct. 2 that the province would put $468,000 into a three-year continuation of the mustering fee program that has been operating for the past two years.
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Producers feared the program would not be continued, even though they are forced to test their animals at least once every three years to make sure tuberculosis has not infected any animals in their herds.
Producers will continue to receive six dollars per head tested, which covers almost half the estimated cost of collecting cattle and having them tested.
Manitoba still holds an official tuberculosis-free status, but cases have occasionally appeared near Riding Mountain National Park, in which infected elk live. Being declared a tuberculosis-containing area can block access to many markets.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency runs the testing program and is co-ordinating eradication efforts.
The six dollar payment helps cover the approximately $15 per head direct cost to producers for gathering up their animals, putting them through the chutes and getting them back to pasture, but indirect costs are not included.
Mowat said the extra handling has often caused bulls to become so agitated they can’t be put back with their herds, and has caused unnecessary abortions.
