Cattle returning from the U.S. after a stay of less than 60 days will require additional certification as bird flu concerns continue.
The requirements, which took effect yesterday, require an additional paperwork, including an export certification statement. This could make it more challenging for Canadian dairy farmers to show their cattle at events like the World Dairy Expo.
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The statement, to be signed by a veterinarian, requires cattle to have tested negative for influenza A virus within seven days of their expected return, to have not been on a farm with other ill animals or birds, to be physically fit for transport, and to be loaded into clean vehicles or containers.
As of Aug. 8, the U.S. CDC has reported 189 dairy herds infected with avian influenza H5N1 in 13 states.
Since April 29, lactating dairy cattle entering Canada from the U.S. must have tested negative for avian influenza and cannot have been on an actively-infected premises within the last 60 days.
No cases of avian influenza have been reported in Canadian dairy cattle.
