02/19/2025
Significant changes to the BSE Surveillance Program are coming into effect on March 7, 2025. We have followed the requirements of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and Canada’s last clinical case was diagnosed in 2015. After sampling over 680,000 animals since 2003 we have earned the status of a negligible-risk nation. As such the CFIA is only concerned with sampling cases
exhibiting symptoms similar to those seen in cattle with BSE, and they are no longer required to sample significant numbers.
Some of the major changes affecting producers are:
1. Producers are to use the CFIA website to find out if their animal qualifies under the BSE Program. It is a short online questionnaire and if your animal qualifies you will be provided with a unique ID
number to be associated with the case. After receiving this unique ID please contact the clinic toarrange for a vet to come out.
A link to this questionnaire will be provided on our website when the program comes into effect.
2. If you are unsure if your animal may qualify, or have more questions please contact your veterinarian. If they feel it will qualify for the program, they can also apply for a unique ID.
3. If an animal qualifies, the cost of visit and mileage will be completely covered.
4. There is NO LONGER any compensation for your animals
5. There will no longer be a hold on animals once they are sampled. You will be compensated $350 if you require deadstock pickup.
6. Animals that are found dead or already down DO NOT QUALIFY any more.
7. Animals that qualify must meet the following criteria:
i. Species: the animal is a bovine (Bos ta**us and Bos indicus) or is the result of a cross witheither of these 2 species
ii. Origin: the bovine was born in Canada
iii. Age: the bovine is 30 months old or older
iv. Number of affected animals: the bovine is the only 1 affected in the herd
If multiple animals in the same herd are affected, they should not be considered BSE
surveillance candidates. This is likely due to other causes, not BSE.
v. Clinical signs: the bovine is showing (or showed) at least 1 of these clinical signs:
- unexpected excitability and/or nervousness
- over-reactivity to stimuli
- excessive vocalisation
- excessive salivation and/or difficulty swallowing
- excessive teeth grinding
- excessive licking of the muzzle
- asymmetrical ear and eye movements
- uncoordinated gait
- difficulty avoiding obstacles
- abnormal pacing in circles
- low carriage of the head and/or head shyness
- tremors (involuntary quivering muscle movements)
- dullness combined with compulsive behaviors, such as pacing in circles or increased chewing and licking
- any other neurological sign(s)
vi. Progression: the bovine is not improving over time, with or without treatment. If the bovinecan stand and move without help and shows any of the signs, it does not need to be observed multiple times to see how the signs worsen. If the bovine can't stand or move without help, or is found dead, it needs to have been observed before with clinical signs at least once. The time between observations doesn't matter. For example, at an abattoir, an animal can show signs upon arrival and then become unable to stand and walk on its own within minutes or hours, and it still meets this criterion.
vii. Observing clinical signs BSE prions slowly damage the brain of the affected bovine. It starts with mild signs that get worse over time and will advance to coma and death. The severity of these signs can vary between animals, and how well and often the animals are observed. Along with changes in behaviour and neurological signs, cattle with classical or atypical BSE may show generalized signs such as:
- reduced milk yield
- loss of body condition
- weight loss
- changes to heartbeat rhythm
However, it is important to note that a bovine that does not show these signs can still be considered aBSE surveillance candidate
8. Should classical BSE ever be detected in Canada again, the CFIA’s response will be different. In accordance with the updated WOAH guidelines, cattle that were born at the same time as the infected bovine or received the same feed that the infected bovine received during the first year of its life will NOT be traced NOR ordered destroyed. As long as necessary feed investigations are conducted and a satisfactory report is provided to WOAH in the required timeframe, Canada will not automatically lose its WOAH negligible risk status.
9. If your animal does not meet the above requirements but you would like an autopsy performed on your animal, you will be invoiced for the mileage and autopsy.
We offer a wide variety of veterinary services for your large and small animals.
