Alberta beef industry reacts to import bans after atypical mad cow disease case
Global News
Alberta's beef industry is reacting to news three countries have banned imports of Canadian beef after an atypical case of mad cow disease was found.
Alberta is famous for its beef, but a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) — commonly known as mad cow disease — found last month in the province has led to import bans from China, South Korea and the Philippines.
The decision has some in the industry concerned.
“Anytime we lose markets for beef in Alberta, or Canada as a whole, it definitely causes some concern,” said Kevin Serfas.
Serfas owns a feed lot, Serfas Farms Ltd., outside of Turin, Alta., located northeast of Lethbridge.
“Anytime you hear BSE, no matter what type it is, it catches everyone’s interest,” Serfas added.
China is the largest of the three beef markets and represents about five per cent of Canada’s $400-billion exports.
Its ban on Brazilian beef last year for a similar case lasted three months.
“Any disruption isn’t good. There is an amount of meat that’s moving to these places with the bans and it will create chaos in the short term. But I’m confident this will get worked through, hopefully in short time,” said Serfas.
