New Policy Announced for Emergency Movement of Livestock Across the Border

Mar 11, 2022

The Canadian and US governments have agreed on a new policy that will make it easier to move livestock and other animals across the border during an emergency.

Under the joint policy, which was formally announced on Friday, the country declaring an emergency will inspect animals, apply official seals to transport conveyances, and issue a simplified export health certificate either at the port(s) of exit by an official veterinarian or at the premises of origin by an accredited veterinarian or official veterinarian.

An emergency could include such things as flooding, forest fires, extreme weather conditions or disasters, or when routine transportation routes are impaired without feasible alternatives. In addition to livestock, the so-called Emergency Transit Policy for Regulated Animals will also cover such things as birds, pets and companion animals.

The policy was developed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and USDA under the umbrella of the Canada-US Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC), which is intended, amongst others, to maintain and enhance the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment. It is also another example of Canada and the United States' commitment to protect their animal populations and shows the “continued cooperation in supporting producers in both countries,” said a CFIA release.

Click here to see more...

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.