Cakadu, I stand with you when it comes to blue tongue and anaplasmosis! I think the Canadian cattle industry has enough trouble getting back up, without setting itself up for another fall!
I did review the 12 page discussion paper on these two diseases, and I do not support opening our borders to untested cattle! As it is now, Canada has less restrictive import conditions, than other countries.
There are too many unknown variables with regards to both blue tongue and anaplasmosis. Time for Canada to look after its own interests.
I know that our representatives in our provincial and federal cattle associations have been pushing hard to remove testing, with the expectations that our borders would open. I am told it is a trade off. Maybe our representatives, should start by representing those of us who are paying the $3.00 checkoff per animal!!
From the discussion paper; anaplasmosis treatment using tetracycline, did not eliminate the organism from infected cattle, yet my ABP rep tells me it is easily treated!
The CFIA estimates between 12.1 and 36.0 million dollars in direct production losses and $3m in costs to CFIA as a consequence of anaplasmosis becoming established in Canada! In 2002, it was ranked 5th in economic importance among the diseases affecting cattle in the U.S.
Blue tongue, would perhaps have a greater impact on our sheep and goats than cattle. Keep in mind this also includes our wildlife. Big horn sheep? I think it is high time that we in Canada, start to look after each other, and issues that could affect our country as a whole!
Allowing untested cattle into our country from states with low incidence of these diseases is acceptable, but I don’t agree with an open door policy. Let’s not compound our problem.
I did review the 12 page discussion paper on these two diseases, and I do not support opening our borders to untested cattle! As it is now, Canada has less restrictive import conditions, than other countries.
There are too many unknown variables with regards to both blue tongue and anaplasmosis. Time for Canada to look after its own interests.
I know that our representatives in our provincial and federal cattle associations have been pushing hard to remove testing, with the expectations that our borders would open. I am told it is a trade off. Maybe our representatives, should start by representing those of us who are paying the $3.00 checkoff per animal!!
From the discussion paper; anaplasmosis treatment using tetracycline, did not eliminate the organism from infected cattle, yet my ABP rep tells me it is easily treated!
The CFIA estimates between 12.1 and 36.0 million dollars in direct production losses and $3m in costs to CFIA as a consequence of anaplasmosis becoming established in Canada! In 2002, it was ranked 5th in economic importance among the diseases affecting cattle in the U.S.
Blue tongue, would perhaps have a greater impact on our sheep and goats than cattle. Keep in mind this also includes our wildlife. Big horn sheep? I think it is high time that we in Canada, start to look after each other, and issues that could affect our country as a whole!
Allowing untested cattle into our country from states with low incidence of these diseases is acceptable, but I don’t agree with an open door policy. Let’s not compound our problem.
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