By Dori Modney (@Dori_Modney on Twitter) with files from the CCA

No BSE found among increased surveillance samples

Feb 9, 2017 | 3:58 PM

LETHBRIDGE —  It’s a term that does not slide off the tongue lightly –  bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE.  Most people would think it is an issue that has gone away because it hasn’t been upper-most in the news.  However, it still haunts the cattle industry and producers stepped up in a big way to make sure it doesn’t rear its ugly head again.

In a report from the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA), 27,346 samples were submitted to the national B-S-E surveillance program in 2016 and not one tested positive for B-S-E.

It’s good news for a Canadian industry that is dealing with shrinking herds and other challenges, according to Association GM, Rob McNabb.

“Maintaining a credible level of BSE surveillance to demonstrate that Canada’s control measures are effective and are working towards eradicating the disease is important.”

However, the industry won’t rest on that laurel. Canada’s annual target for BSE samples is 30,000, a target set in 2003. The 2016 sample numbers surpassed the 2015 total, which produced just one positive case.

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It is expected that the level of surveillance and control measures that are in place will allow Canada to maintain its controlled risk status.

The CCA continues to encourage producers to submit at least one cow per year for sampling. The most valuable information comes from cattle between 30 months and 10 years of age. However, “any animal older than 30 months of age that fits into one of the categories of dead, down, dying or diseased is a potential candidate for testing.”

There is also reimbursement for eligible samples under the National BSE Surveillance Program.