Lab results have confirmed that cattle in northwestern Saskatchewan died of anthrax.
Tag Archives anthrax
Anthrax found in Saskatchewan cattle
Lab results have confirmed that cattle in northwestern Saskatchewan died of anthrax.
Possible drought this summer may increase anthrax risk
Limited snowpack this winter combined with low precipitation in previous years has raised the alarm for severe drought conditions on the Prairies this summer. One of the more serious diseases to arise in these challenging weather conditions is anthrax. Caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, anthrax is an ancient and global disease. The earliest references […] Read more
Anthrax kills cow, suspected in death of two others
Anthrax has been confirmed in the Rural Municipality of Cote in east-central Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Agriculture said Sept. 26 laboratory tests confirmed the disease as the cause of death in one cow and the suspected cause in the deaths of two other cattle in the same herd. Anthrax spores can live in soil for decades and […] Read more
Operation put under quarantine after anthrax found in Sask.
A livestock operation in the Saskatchewan Rural Municipality of Piapot is in quarantine after laboratory testing confirmed nine animals have died from anthrax. Saskatchewan disease surveillance veterinarian Dr. Wendy Wilkins said there were about 100 animals in the pasture where the deaths occurred. The remaining animals are on antibiotics and will be vaccinated. The government […] Read more
Sask. finds first anthrax since 2019
Anthrax has killed at least one sheep and possibly four others in a flock east of Regina. The provincial agriculture ministry confirmed the cause of death in a July 8 news release. The affected farm is in the Rural Municipality of South Qu’Appelle, which includes the communities of McLean, Qu’Appelle, Edgeley and Avonhurst. Chief veterinarian […] Read more
![Anthrax spores live in the soil and are buoyant in water. When sloughs and potholes dry up, the spores remain and concentrate. Disease surveillance veterinarian Dr. Wendy Wilkins said as the grazing season winds down and animals get into less desirable forage the chances of getting to those spores increase. | National Institute of Standards and Technology [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons photo](https://static.producer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/03152802/Anthrax_spores_5940425745-660x420.jpg)
Southeast Sask. producers dealing with anthrax
Provincial officials say seven animals are dead from anthrax in the rural municipality of Chester, southeast of Regina. These are the first deaths from the soil-borne disease in the province since three farms, in incidences involving cattle and bison, were affected in 2015. The province wouldn’t reveal what type of animals were affected this year, […] Read more
Producers urged to keep anthrax risks in mind
Disease prominent during drier years after pastures have flooded and spores are stirred to the surface
As livestock producers face another potentially dry summer, they need to be on the watch for anthrax. While fairly uncommon, anthrax is a soil-borne disease that can quickly kill cattle, bison, sheep, goats and horses. Animals tend to graze closer to the soil during drier years, which places them at greater risks of contracting the […] Read more
Take action to prevent anthrax in cattle, bison
A good time to write about anthrax is when there isn’t a big outbreak across Western Canada. Anthrax strikes fear into most cattle producers but with the last big outbreak occurring seven years ago in 2006, there is a risk of becoming complacent. In 2006, we learned a lot about the disease and how to […] Read more
