COMMENTARY

by Ray Armbruster

I am writing this to update producers about the TB situation here in Manitoba, but this is also a message to government.
Producers in and around the Riding Mountain Eradication Area (RMEA) call me, angry and frustrated that after all this time they are still being required to test their cattle. From their perspective, they have been doing so continually, with no end in sight, for nearly 20 years.

At this time I would like to thank producers for their efforts. And while I know the continued testing of cattle may appear to be a waste of time to producers burdened with the task, the fact we aren’t finding infected herds helps raise the confidence in the health of the cattle in the area. As I’ve mentioned many times before, this helps keep our provincial status TB-Free. Hopefully because of this, the level of testing will decrease.
Last year the MCPA was successful in it’s lobbying efforts to secure a mustering fee for those producers in the RMEA who are subjected to ongoing herd testing. The MCPA pays $1 per head and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) pays $6 per head. We know this is not nearly enough, but despite our efforts, neither Manitoba Conservation or Parks Canada were willing to step up and acknowledge the efforts by producers and contribute to the fee and that is extremely disappointing.
The federal government has said that their dollars and manpower will be spent dealing with the strategic testing and eradication of wildlife; and that the CFIA will provide the manpower to come in and do the cattle testing.
When the MCPA began talking to government about a mustering fee, it became apparent early on that in order to make this happen, industry was going to have to make a financial contribution as well.
As a Board we had to set guidelines on how payment would be delivered and who would be eligible. It was decided that the mustering fee would be paid to producers in the RMEA who have been continually testing. Unfortunately, those who have to occasionally test (tracebacks) outside of that area are ineligible.
However, we are not ignoring those producers - we have lobbied for them as well, asking for the same help that was made available to producers in B.C. who faced quarantine while their herds were being tested.
Now that AgriRecovery is in place, and a precedent has been set in B.C., the provincial government has to agree, then take it forward to the federal government. To date, we still do not have an answer on this issue.
And while our goal is eradication of the disease, we will continue to lobby for more financial support for producers who have to test.

On a more positive note, there has been some progress. Whereas seven years ago we were testing all over the RMEA, we have been able to establish that the newly named Western Control Zone is where the problem is the most serious.
This is difficult to explain without showing a map and providing a historical perspective, but I will sum up by saying that the only reason we were able to establish this zone is because of the work in surveillance and monitoring of wildlife; capturing and hunter samples; and also because of the monumental commitment made by cattle producers.
We’ve tested nearly 200,000 head of cattle in the RMEA since the 2002-03 testing year. The cattle herds act as sentinels as to where the disease is prevalent in the wildlife. Knowing this will now allow us to focus more vigorously on the high risk area.
Recently, Parks Canada announced that they have a goal of eradication and now have a straight-out removal program. We recognize this and support their efforts wholeheartedly to eradicate TB from the RMEA.
In a recent article in the Winnipeg Free Press, Parks Canada took a lot of criticism over their recent commitment, which may explain part of the reason why this has taken so long. The Manitoba Wildlife Federation vigorously opposes us and Parks Canada on this issue and look for public support to further their cause.

While we are trying to get this resolved, I have to ask producers once again to continue to work at keeping their herds disease free.
Testing has been extremely important in the past and will continue to be in the future - along with methods to remove interaction between wildlife and cattle.
We recognize that if barrier fencing is properly used and maintained it is a key element in keeping wildlife away from feed. I’d like to encourage producers to contact either the MCPA or MAFRI if they feel they need help with this.
I ask producers to continue to erect and maintain barrier fencing where needed; or consider guardian dogs which have been on trial for a few years and they can be effective at keeping the wildlife away from cattle. From time to time there are special situations where interaction is a problem and we will work hard with producers and government to remedy it.

We have to remain diligent so that our concerns are taken seriously.
One argument that I have heard from Manitoba Conservation officials is that cattle producers are not doing their part. This sidetracks the negotiations and gives government an excuse to not take our demands seriously.
For the most part, producers recognize what is at stake. Many have been unable to adopt practises like bale and swath grazing because of concern for the bio-security of their cattle. Not everyone in Manitoba Conservation recognizes the sacrifices producers are making.
The ninth case of TB in whitetail deer was recently reported in the RMEA. We have a bad situation brewing that needs a direct approach sooner rather than later. The fact TB is moving into the deer population underlines even more the need to eliminate this problem at its source.
Considering the level of disease within the whitetail deer and elk populations, total avoidance of year round interaction between wildlife and cattle is an impossible task. We still have to get to the source of the disease and focus on eradication. The RMEA was created with that goal.
TB is an economic, bio-security, animal welfare, food safety and human health issue that cannot be ignored any longer.
We are dealing with an infectious, reportable disease and it is irresponsible to leave it on the landscape where there is the opportunity for it to continuously maintain itself.
All members of the TB Task Force are onside with this rationale, with the exception of the Department of Conservation. They have a lack of understanding and respect for cattlemen and push the blame back onto producers when we pressure them to develop and cooperate with a more direct effort towards eradication. We recognize that monitoring and surveillance and management are all key issues— have supported this in past and will in the future—but we also need a direct approach towards eradication.
Manitoba’s Conservation’s lack of commitment could be seen by many as down right negligence on their part - knowing there is a problem but refusing to do something about it. This is unacceptable.
And finally, I would like to end this commentary by saying producer frustration with this process is completely justified. There is a feeling in the RMEA that as long as they continue to test, the issue will never be resolved.
Producers have been shouldering this burden for too long. The only proven method of eliminating TB is through animal removal. We need all government agencies working together to make that happen.

- Ray Armbruster is the chairman of the MCPA’s animal health committee.