The Canadian Food Inspection Agency last week released six ranches, or premises, from a federal quarantine after a micro-outbreak of bovine tuberculosis was reported in September. Officials in Canada say “appropriate testing” of the six ranches released from quarantine have been completed on the cattle at those locations. Online publication AgCanada reports quarantines still apply on about 45 premises — mostly in southeastern Alberta and a few in southwestern Saskatchewan — covering about 26,000 cattle. That figure includes 18 premises where cattle are confirmed to have been exposed to one of the six TB-positive animals found so far in the investigation. Animals now considered part of that “herd” includes those which commingled with TB-infected animals on community pastures. An estimated 10,000 cattle and calves from those 18 premises have been or are booked to be destroyed. Meat from slaughtered animals that are later ruled to have been TB-negative will be eligible for food use. Full testing of all cattle under quarantine is expected to be completed early next month.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting news service.