Elk producers in Manitoba are feeling optimistic about their chances of eventually easing border restrictions that have kept the provincial herd isolated.
Manitoba government regulations prevent producers from importing animals from any other jurisdiction unless the Canadian Food Inspection Agency certifies the elk are free of chronic wasting disease. The agency does not provide this certification so that leaves the border shut.
But Edwin Harms, president of the Manitoba Elk Growers Association, said some of the logjam broke at a meeting with provincial agriculture officials on June 29.
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“It’s looking really good right now,” said Harms, who was at the meeting. “It looks like we’ve agreed on some issues and they’re going to go ahead and see if they can get some regulations changed.”
Harms said outside animals could be allowed into Manitoba as soon as this fall, if new protocols are put in place.
Bill Steeds, the head of Manitoba Agriculture’s diversified livestock section, was more cautious.
He said the government has no objection in principle to allowing in foreign elk. But it will not allow any in if there is a chance of importing chronic wasting disease with them.
“We’re going to do whatever it takes to make sure that chronic wasting disease doesn’t end up in Manitoba,” said Steeds. “We don’t have it, and we’re going to do whatever it takes to not get it.”
Steeds said veterinary officials are trying to set up a system that would ensure prospective imports to Manitoba are free of the disease. Careful record keeping on animals’ herds of origin would be essential to satisfy officials that there is no risk.
The disease is endemic to a small part of Colorado and Wyoming and has been found in Montana and North Dakota. Individual animals in two Saskatchewan herds have also developed the disease, which is the cervid equivalent of mad cow disease.
