Canada invests in Scrapie eradication
Scrapie is a degenerative disease that affects the nervous system in sheep and goats. The funding is being made through Growing Forward 2’s AgriMarketing Program, a CA$341m five-year initiative
It is hoped this project will provide sheep and goat producers with the information and tools necessary to combat scrapie. It is designed to help mitigate economic losses to sheep and goat producers, reduce the cost of disease control actions, regain market access, and explore new market opportunities.
This project will expand the existing the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program (VSFCP), a national flock/herd scrapie risk management program that is available to any sheep or goat farmer in Canada who agrees to meet the requirements of the program.
Wayne Easter, Member of Parliament for Malpeque, added: “The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the livestock sector in gaining and maintaining access to markets by leveraging Canada’s reputation for quality and safety. This investment will help ensure that Canadian sheep and goat producers have a plan in place to help meet buyer and market demands.”
Phil Kolodychuk, Canadian Sheep Federation chairman, welcomed the investment: “I would like to applaud Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for investing in our industry and for partnering with the Canadian Sheep Federation to implement the Scrapie Eradication Strategic Plan. Together we can eradicate scrapie from the national sheep flock and goat herd. This program will move the small ruminant industry closer to negligible risk status for scrapie, with the goal of protecting Canadian farmers from disease losses, re-establishing lost markets and creating opportunities for future trade.”
