Alberta Beef Producers Want TB Support

The Alberta Beef Producers organization is calling for financial support for ranchers as Canada investigates a case of bovine tuberculosis. Ag Canada reports the group recently said a significant number of herds had been quarantined in the investigation. They also noted the number of herds quarantined could increase as the tracebacks of animals in contact with any positive animals over the last five years proceed. ABP says bills will pile up for quarantined ranchers and is calling for help to offset the cost. The organization says it is working with Canada’s government to get support. ABP says the support is needed to “help producers cover the costs of holding and feeding quarantine animals, as well as the costs of lost marketing opportunities.” In late September, the U.S. Department of Agriculture notified the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that a case of bovine tuberculosis had been detected in a cow from Alberta when it was slaughtered in the United States. For Canada, bovine tuberculosis is a federally reportable disease, and the nation is considered to be officially free of the disease.