Quarantined ranchers finally get good news
Officials now convinced bovine TB outbreak confined to single operation
Southeast Alberta ranchers affected by an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis could be allowed to begin re-stocking their herds by early spring, bringing an end to a months-long ordeal.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Friday that while 58 ranches — the majority of which are located near the small farming community of Jenner — remain under quarantine, it is unlikely that additional cases of the bacterial disease will be discovered.
The testing the agency has carried out so far has found no evidence of bovine TB, beyond the six cases discovered in the fall and traced to a single farm which will now be the focus of the CFIA’s investigation.
“Our evidence shows there is a low risk that the disease was further transmitted by the cattle,” said Dr. Harpeet Kochhar, the CFIA’s chief veterinary officer. “The agency has determined that the investigation will be focused on the single infected farming operation.”
The discovery of bovine TB in Alberta and the resulting widespread investigation has wreaked havoc on the agricultural community in the Jenner area. More than 10,000 cattle from 18 premises have been slaughtered and subjected to postmortem exams over the last four months. Animals not ordered slaughtered, but that may have mingled with the infected herd in a local community pasture, have been quarantined — meaning many producers lost income when they were prevented from taking their cattle to market.
However, Kochhar said while screening tests continue on some of the quarantined farms, properties that get negative results will now be able to go ahead with cleaning and disinfection procedures. Once that is done, they will be released from quarantine and allowed to purchase and sell cattle again — likely by early spring.
Friday’s news was met with relief by the Alberta Beef Producers, the industry group that has been lobbying on behalf of the affected ranchers since the outbreak was discovered. Chair Bob Lowe said the fact the CFIA has narrowed its focus to the original farm will take the pressure off 57 other producers.
“I think it’s sounding really good,” said Lowe. “It’s been really hard for those guys out there, so the sooner it’s over with the better.”
Even Brad Osadczuk, the owner of the index herd where the six confirmed cases were found, was feeling optimistic — in spite of the fact the investigation at his property will drag on longer than most. CFIA officials are still trying to determine how the six cattle became infected in the first place, and will be working to trace any animal that may have entered Osadczuk’s herd over the last five years.
That work will not take place until fall, once calving season is over.
“Compared to what we’ve been through out here, I’d say the mood is good,” Osadczuk said. “I think we’re getting to the end. I’m starting to think about restocking and moving forward.”
Provincial Agriculture Minister Oneil Carlier said Friday he admired “the resilience and strength” of the affected ranchers and said he was glad to hear progress was being made on the investigation.
“I commend and thank everyone who supports our cattle industry during this crisis and I look forward to ranchers rebuilding their herds,” Carlier said in an emailed statement.
In late November, the federal and provincial governments announced a nearly $17 million disaster relief program intended to help ranchers affected by the quarantine cover costs such as feed and water infrastructure and cleaning and disinfection.
As of Friday, 39 applications under the program had been processed, for a total of $3 million, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. More money is expected to flow into the hands of producers as claims continue to be processed.
The strain of bovine TB identified in the Jenner outbreak is closely related to a strain originating from cattle in Central Mexico in 1997. Until now, it has never been found in Canada.
The CFIA acknowledged Friday that while its investigation into the cause of the outbreak continues, it may never know for sure how the disease made its way onto a southeast Alberta farm.
“We may never actually get to the point where we can ID a source,” Kochhar said.