Canada: Sheep Farmers Also Suffering From BSE Scare

Canada: Sheep Farmers Also Suffering From BSE Scare

The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) spotlight has largely been on Canada?s beef industry, but farmers at the Canadian Classic Sheep Show and Sale say access to the United States is crucial for their industry as well.

The U.S. border closing on May 20, after a single case of BSE was confirmed in an Alberta animal, also closed the boarder to other ruminants, which included animals such as sheep, elk and bison.

Canadian sheep producer, Gordon Schroeder, commented to the Canadian Press, ?We were kind of caught in the crossfire, and that?s the frustrating thing about it. We can?t move anything across the border. The feedlot industry is worried about not being able to move their lambs across, so they?ve quit buying. Right now, everything is basically at a standstill.?

The Canadian Sheep Federation reported that last year, total exports of live sheep and processed product from Canada to the United States were worth about $20 million.

Staff contact: Paul Rodgers, (304) 647-9981

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