Saskatchewan livestock industry leaders welcome a provincial government-led disease-monitoring program.
“Canada exports about 50 percent of our beef production,” said John LaClare, of Heartland Livestock. “Our pork exports are increasing. We have a quality and disease-free reputation to maintain.”
LaClare said it helps that the program is voluntary.
“It’s not much different than wanting to monitor what’s in the human population,” he said.
Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association general manager Tracey Edge said the program is a tool producers can use to ultimately secure markets.
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Gavin Conacher, of the Regina-based Canadian Bison Association, said the bison industry is implementing an on-farm food safety program.
“Surveillance will be a part of the overall parameter in our certification program,” he said.
“Our industry is going to be accepting of any surveillance offered.”
Conacher said the bison industry is extremely conscious of disease issues because 80 percent of the product is exported.
Livestock associations will be consulted as the program is developed.
“Until we talk with them we have no idea how our producers are going to access this program,” said Leon Brin of the Saskatchewan
Bison Association.
