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Enhanced Controls For Cattle Exported To The United States
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This Directive replaces the document titled "Protocol to determine if the
heifers destined to be exported to the United States are pregnant or not"
distributed on September 22, 2005.
1. Pregnancy Diagnosis
Only animals confirmed not to be pregnant are eligible for export under the U.S.
Minimal Risk Rule. Palpation, ultrasound, blood test and a pregnancy termination agent are
the four accepted methods for completing pregnancy diagnosis. The requirements for each of
these methods are as follows:
a) Pregnancy diagnosis by palpation
- Beginning January 12, 2006, new shipments must be segregated and physically separated by
gender for at least 60 days before the palpation test is completed to
prevent the misdiagnosis of early-term pregnancies, which can be difficult to detect;
- Each animal must be inspected individually; and
- If both uterine horns cannot be palpated for any reason to confirm that the animal is
not pregnant, the animal must be considered pregnant and deemed ineligible for export.
b) Ultrasound Technology
- Beginning January 12, 2006, new shipments must be segregated and physically separated by
gender for at least 45 days before the ultrasound diagnostic technique is
used to prevent the misdiagnosis of early-term pregnancies, which can be difficult to
detect;
- Each animal must be inspected individually;
- All suspect cases must be considered pregnant and deemed ineligible for export; and
- The accredited veterinarian must have the necessary experience and training in the use
of such technology.
c) Blood Test
- For the moment, the only recognized blood test for pregnancy determination is the
Conception DG29 test. The animals must be segregated and physically separated by gender at
least 60 days before being presented for this test;
- The accredited veterinarians can obtain the necessary information and material for the
collection and submission of samples at: Mr. Paul Rouillier (Conception), 392
Chemin du Fleuve, Beaumont, Québec, G0R 1C0, Phone: (418) 838-0772 ou
1-888-798-7285, Fax:(418) 838-0701 ou 1-877-838-0701 E-mail: conception.dg29@videotron.ca;
- Each animal must be tested individually; and
- This test must not be performed on animals having received a pregnancy terminating agent
as it could bring out false positive results.
d) Pregnancy Terminating Agent
- All heifers confirmed or suspected to be pregnant must be clearly identified and
segregated into a different group from the other export qualified heifers. Exporters may
choose to treat such animals with a recognized pregnancy-terminating agent. Each treated
animal must be re-examined using palpation or ultrasound no less than two weeks
after this treatment is given and prior to export. An exporter may choose to treat every
animal in the shipment; however, all treated animals must still be examined to confirm
they are not pregnant; and
- If the owner changes his mind and wants to send them for slaughter in Canada, the
treated animals must not be slaughtered for use in food for at least two days after the
last treatment with these products.
2. Spayed Heifers
Spayed heifers are exempt from pregnancy requirements. A declaration from the
veterinarian who performed the surgical procedure must be obtained in order for the animal
to be certified for export. Any information that assists in confirming the identification
of the animal must accompany the declaration, including the official tag number from
either the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) or Agri-Traçabilité Québec
(ATQ).
Notes:
- Segregation of gender should be done in a way where animals in one group cannot
physically reach the animals of another group. As an example, a group of males and a group
of heifers should not be placed in two adjacent fields separated only by a regular fence.
- With respect to the 60 day or 45 day segregation period described above, pregnancy tests
can be performed outside of the 30 day maximum period between the inspection and the
export, if a strict segregation by gender is maintained from this moment.
3. Age Requirement
Only animals confirmed to be younger than 30 months of age are
eligible for export under the U.S. Minimal Risk Rule.
Exporters must present to accredited veterinarians only appropriately aged animals.
Accredited veterinarians will then visually inspect all cattle to screen-out animals that
appear to be overage on the basis of physical characteristics such as size. Such animals
must be removed from the group and clearly identified. These animals must not be
reconsidered for export unless registered birth date information is provided.
The age of all animals which pass this preliminary screening must then be confirmed
through dentition examination by the accredited veterinarian.
The accredited veterinarian will be required to reject the entire
load presented for export if the rejection rate of cattle over thirty months is greater
than 10%. The animals rejected during the preliminary screening or those rejected as a
precaution measure are not included in the 10% calculation.
To continue with the export process, the exporter will be
required to re-assemble the load and take actions to ensure that only eligible animals are
presented to the accredited veterinarian for certification.
The following records may be used instead of dentition if the birth dates are
available:
4. Enhanced Certification Control
Normally, veterinarians accredited by the CFIA are responsible for the major part of
the export certification process. However, in certain higher-risk situations CFIA
veterinarians may perform an on-farm visit in order to discuss with the accredited
veterinarian or the exporter, to check the records or the facilities, to supervise the
accredited veterinarian's work or to inspect a part or all the animals within a shipment
to verify cattle identity and dentition. Examples of higher-risk situations include, but
are not limited to:
- Exporters who ship infrequently (90 days or more between shipments);
- Exporters who ship assembled loads where animals have an unknown or uncertain origin,
especially if heifers are present and/or the animals are near the 30 month age limit;
- Shipments where accredited veterinarians have observed 10% or higher non-compliance with
age requirements during preliminary inspections.
In the case of shipments from previously suspended exporters, the additional oversight
by CFIA staff will be applied on a mandatory basis until further notice.
Revised January 12, 2006
For additional information: Canadian Food Inspection
Agency's Web Site
www.inspection.gc.ca |
