Canadian Food Inspection Agency triples ‘high risk’ bovine TB farm list

The agency last week declared six properties among those considered as high risk for transmission.

Kochhar said the CFIA has added 12 more farms to the expanding list, bringing the total to 18.

So far, quarantine orders have been issued at more than 40 cattle operations in southeast Alberta and southwest Saskatchewan, affecting more than 22,000 animals.

He warned the number could increase again.

“As the investigation proceeds we will find that there are more trace outs. We may find another animal which comes back positive. This number will continue to change and evolve.”

Kochhar said only slaughtered animals that test negative for bovine TB will be deemed acceptable for human consumption.

Farmers losing their animals as part of the slaughter are being compensated under CFIA guidelines.

The federal government has promised aid to ranchers who are continuing to feed cattle quarantined to their properties.

The group Alberta Beef Producers said the requirements for a feedlot option to accommodate calves from quarantined farms that are not equipped for winter feeding have been approved by the industry and the CFIA.

The group, which represents about 19,000 producers in Alberta, said it is working to identify feedlots that would be willing to handle these cattle.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Canadian Food Inspection Agency triples ‘high risk’ bovine TB farm list

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