"The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the livestock sector in gaining and maintaining access to markets by leveraging Canada’s reputation for quality and safety,” Malpeque said. “This investment will help ensure that Canadian sheep and goat producers have a plan in place to help meet buyer and market demands."
This project will provide sheep and goat producers with the information and tools necessary to combat scrapie, a fatal disease affecting sheep and goats. The project will help mitigate economic losses to sheep and goat producers, reduce the cost of disease control actions, regain market access, and explore new market opportunities.
"I would like to applaud Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for investing in our industry and for partnering with the Canadian Sheep Federation to implement the Scrapie Eradication Strategic Plan,” added Canadian Sheep Federation Chairman, Phil Kolodychuk.
This project will expand the existing Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program (VSFCP), a national flock/herd scrapie risk management program available to any sheep or goat farmer in Canada who agrees to meet the requirements of the program.
“Together we can eradicate scrapie from the national sheep flock and goat herd,” Kolodychuk also said. “This program will move the small ruminant industry closer to negligible risk status for scrapie, with a goal of protecting Canadian farmers from disease loses, re-establishing lost markets and creating opportunities for future trade."
Canadian farm cash receipts for goats, sheep and lambs totaled nearly $187 million in 2014. Since the market has only grown.
The funding is being made through Growing Forward 2’s, AgriMarketing Program, a five-year, up to $341 million initiative.
Source: Meatbusiness