Investment announced for Manitoba Beef Producers
The announcement was made this week by Robert Sopuck, Member of Parliament for Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz.
MBP, which represents 8,000 beef producers across the province, will work with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on the project in order to enhance the tools used to detect and eliminate the spread of bTB.
The five-year initiative will build upon existing monitoring and management activities, including the development of a new traceability tool to better utilise data at the processing stage in the beef chain.
The tools and surveillance methods could also be used in other areas within Canada that are subject to similar recurring disease threats or that are facing new and emerging disease threats, said Canadian government department Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Sopuck, said: "Our government is committed to safeguarding livestock health and this investment will support the beef sector in the monitoring and mitigating of diseases that affect animal health, ultimately leading to greater exports and increased profits for beef producers."
Heinz Reimer, president of MBP, added: "Manitoba Beef Producers welcomes the federal government’s support for this important research project. The bovine tuberculosis issue has exacted a heavy economic toll on Manitoba’s beef industry.
"We believe this project – with its focus on factors such as on-farm risk assessments and surveillance – is crucial to moving toward a time when testing is no longer required on live cattle and the disease is ultimately eradicated."
In Canada, bTB is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act, and all cases must be reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
