CFIA adds requirements for cattle returning from U.S. due to bird flu

Cattle have to be tested negative for influenza A virus within seven days of their expected return

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Published: August 26, 2024

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A cow is looking out of a transport trailer.

    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.

    About the author

    Geralyn Wichers

    Geralyn Wichers

    Digital editor, news and national affairs

    Geralyn graduated from Red River College's Creative Communications program in 2019 and launched directly into agricultural journalism with the Manitoba Co-operator. Her enterprising, colourful reporting has earned awards such as the Dick Beamish award for current affairs feature writing and a Canadian Online Publishing Award, and in 2023 she represented Canada in the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists' Alltech Young Leaders Program. Geralyn is a co-host of the Armchair Anabaptist podcast, cat lover, and thrift store connoisseur.

     

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