CCA Semi-Annual 2022: Animal Health & Care Report

Animal Health Emergency Management: 

Bob Burden of Animal Health Emergency Management gave a global report on the AHEM II projects which are underway. The AHEM II focuses on the following six activities which are related to disease outbreak in Canada:

1. Response protocols.

1. National and Provincial Association Response Plans.
2. Emergency Producer Handbooks.
3. Awareness Training.
4. Support for the Emergency Management Board for African Swine Fever through Animal Health Canada.
5. Foot and Mouth Strategy work.

 
A detailed explanation of Canada’s level of preparedness for the occurrence of a case of Foot and Mouth (FMD) was given. The planned association and governmental response to a positive case emerging in Canada was outlined.
 
Two representatives from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) updated the committee on the current status of the North American FMD Vaccine bank. The implementation of a new US only FMD Vaccine Bank was outlined. Funding and operation of the current North American FMD Vaccine Bank is now uncertain due to the withdrawal of Mexico and the new parallel American Vaccine Bank. The delegates from NCBA suggested that CCA work with all levels of government to implement a national Vaccine Bank in Canada.
 
Transportation Regulations and Transfer of Care Documents 
Drs Heather Brown and Marie-Odile Rozon of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) gave an update on the requirements of the transfer of care document (ToC) and the animal transport Record (ATR).
 
Transfer of Care Document (ToC)

• Needed when shipping animals to:
• Assembly Centre
• Abbatoir
• Slaughter House

Required information on the document:

• Last access to Feed
• Last access to Water
• Last Rest
• Condition of animals on arrival

Animal Transport Record (ATR)

• Needed by trucker when shipping animals to:
• Assembly Centre
• Abbatoir
• Slaughter House
• Farm or feedlot

Required information on the document:

• Owner of the cattle
• Trucker
• Destination
• License of vehicle
• Square footage of trailer or truck
• Last time trailer was cleaned
• Last time cattle had feed and water
• Time the cattle were loaded
• Date, time and location of final destination Example of an ATR document by Beef Farmers of Ontario:

Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+):

Shannon Argent of VBP+ gave an update regarding the new International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) which some banks may be requiring for new loans. The IFRS would potentially require the equivalent of an environmental farm plan when applying for new loans from the bank. The possibility of VBP+ incorporating the environmental farm plan into the auditing system was discussed as an option to help fulfil these new banking requirements.

Victor Drury, YCC Quebec Delegate