It appears the days of the frozen ears and tails of pigs moving thousands of miles in minus cold winter temperatures and strong icy north winds are all but over.
Dr. Max Propp, a veterinarian with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says Canadian livestock producers and transporters share the CFIA’s commitment to the humane transport of animals.
Dr. Propp told record numbers of producers attending the 2016 Manitoba Swine Seminar in February, industry is responsible for complying with the regulations established to ensure humane conditions for animal welfare during transportation.
“The CFIA has the authority for humane transportation of animals under the Health of Animals Act listed in its regulations,” he said. “In those regulations is a definition of the conditions for humane transport of livestock in all modes of transport. The regulations forbid overcrowding of animals. For example transporting animals that are unfit is prohibited, loading, transporting or unloading animals in a way that causes injury or suffering is prohibited or is the goal of being avoided.”
Dr. Propp says the CFIA works with industry to make livestock transporters aware that vehicles used in the transfer and delivery of animals must be suitable and proper techniques used in the loading, unloading and transferring of all animals. There are more details on the federal web site — www.inspection.gc.ca
“Most Canadian producers and transporters share our commitment to animal protection and adhere to all these regulations,” he said. “If they’re looking for additional guidance, it’s provided through the CFIA’s compromised animal policy which is available to all livestock transporters. Again they can find this on the CFIA web site.”
Dr. Propp advises producers to review the regulations and where there are questions to consult with a veterinarian. Industry is engaged in ensuring the humane transport of animals and, when CFIA makes presentations, the information is well received. While one vet looks after the regulations so animals get the right treatment during transport, another one has concerns about disease transfer while moving hogs from place to place.
Dr. Doug MacDougald, a veterinarian with Southwest Ontario Veterinary Services says the heightened risk for the transmission of trans-boundary and possibly foreign animal diseases has heightened the need for a national swine health strategy.
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus, was first identified in the U.S. in mid-May 2013 and the first case in Canada confirmed in January 2014 in Ontario.
Dr. MacDougald says Canada’s experience with PEDv has clearly demonstrated the need for a nationally coordinated strategy for dealing with trans-boundary animal diseases.
“Clearly the risks have increased. The fact that two strains of PED virus and Deltacoronavirus all arriving in the U.S. through the spring of 2013 represents the risk of globalization of the swine industry,” he said. “And product movement around the globe creating a clear risk factor for the transmissions of future trans-boundary and possibly foreign animal disease pathogens means we must have a national strategy.”
Dr. MacDougald says Canada is a national exporting country and it does little good for Quebec to do a good job on disease containment and elimination and Ontario not, for example so Canada must simply have a strong regional focus with a national overarching strategy.
“In a country like Canada that exports close to 75 per cent of its total product, any trade limiting disease can have a material to a potentially catastrophic impact,” he said. Dr. MacDougald says PEDv has shown the need for single voice organizations in Quebec, Ontario and Western Canada to formulate specific appropriate plans for the regions and a national equivalent organization to coordinate and collaborate between the regions and with international organizations. •
— By Harry Siemens
