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Introduction to the Animal Health Centre

The Animal Health Centre is responsible for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of animal diseases, other factors leading to ill health and support of animal health programs. Staff investigate and identify major livestock diseases that could have potentially devastating effects on the food supply. Submissions are provided by veterinarians, livestock producers, the general public and government agencies; the results are used to monitor animal health in British Columbia. The professional staff also act as consultants on animal health issues.

Disease diagnosis and monitoring animal health are essential to British Columbia's agri-food industry and in the development of new industries such as game and fish farming. Although primarily concerned with food-producing animals, the AHC also provides diagnostic services for companion animals, captive and free-ranging wildlife, zoo animals, fish, and fur-bearers such as mink, chinchilla, and foxes.

History

The AHC (formerly the Veterinary Laboratory) was housed on the campus of the University of British Columbia until 1965 when it was moved to a new facility, the John Bankier Building, approximately 80 kilometres east in Abbotsford in the central Fraser Valley. Over the following thirty years, the types of testing being performed and the complexity of the various new technologies soon outgrew the capabilities of this building. Recognizing the advantages of consolidating all Ministry of Agriculture and Lands offices in the Fraser Valley, the new Abbotsford Agriculture Centre (AAC) was built to serve these purposes.

The new AAC consolidates the offices of the Coast Region, Industry Competitiveness Branch, Food Safety and Quality Branch, Resource Management Branch, and the Animal Health Branch. The new Abbotsford Agriculture Centre was officially opened in September of 1995. The AHC began accepting submissions at the new site in late July 1995.

Location

Abbotsford is a community of approximately 125,000 located in the central Fraser Valley of British Columbia, eighty kilometres east of Vancouver. It is a prime agricultural area for livestock, berry, and vegetable crops. Dairy cattle, commercial poultry, and swine are the major livestock commodities although there are also large numbers of horses, and several smaller sheep and goat holdings.

The AHC occupies approximately 30,000 sq ft of the 65,000 sq ft AAC and is located at 1767 Angus Campbell Road in Abbotsford. The building is immediately adjacent to the north side of Highway #1, the Trans Canada, midway between the Mission/Sumas exit to the west and Whatcom Road to the east. Angus Campbell Road is a short cul de sac off Delair Road. Please call ahead if you should require more specific directions.

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