Three American states require additional testing of Canadian cattle imports for tuberculosis and brucellosis.
Individual states have the right to go beyond U.S. Department of Agriculture standards, said George Luterbach of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
“Canada has no objection to testing cattle to the standard of the USDA much like U.S. animals would be tested to CFIA standards,” he said. “Each state has some prerogative to test.”
USDA considers Canada to be free of brucellosis and tuberculosis with the exception of Manitoba where exports to the U.S. must be tested.
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Any live cattle and bison exports must have Canadian veterinary health certificates. Primary inspection and certification procedures are done by private veterinarians accredited by CFIA. Unless the animals’ health status changes, the certificate is valid for 30 days from the inspection date.
As of Nov. 19, North Dakota requires cattle to have an importation number before entry into the state, a certificate of veterinary inspection, individual official identification by a method approved by the state’s head veterinarian and for the animal to be listed individually on the certificate of veterinary inspection. A hot iron or freeze brand of C N is required.
Females older than 12 months of age must have been vaccinated for brucellosis when they were calves. Bison are excluded. A negative brucellosis test is required within 30 days before importation on all eligible cattle and bison 18 months of age and older.
A negative tuberculosis test is required on all animals 60 days of age and older within 60 days before entry. Nursing calves accompanying a negative-tested dam are exempt.
Imported bulls must be tested for trichomonas fetus.
Cattle going to Washington require a state entry permit. Washington is brucellosis free but requires animals to be vaccinated as calves due to the risk of the disease spreading from the Yellowstone area.
For imported cattle, the state requires a brucellosis calfhood vaccination and it will accept mature vaccination if the state or province allows that activity. If an animal has not been vaccinated, Washington will allow it to be held in quarantine until it can be, providing the female can be individually identified and has documentation of premises of origin.
Washington requires all dairy, rodeo and timed event cattle to be tested for tuberculosis. All cattle must have a specific brand identifying their origin as Canada. Ear tattoos will not be accepted.
Montana requires documentation that breeding cattle are free of brucellosis, tuberculosis and trichomoniasis unless they are just passing through the state. Also set forth are strict requirements for animal identification, including a demand that animals be identified by hot-iron brands. Tattoos are not wanted because animals must be restrained and the tattoos become harder to read with age.
