This year’s AGM will be held virtually via Zoom.Pre-registration is required to participate. Please use the link below to register.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
WASHINGTON, December 2, 2021 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has published a final rule updating its import regulations for sheep, goats and their products, such as meat. This rule removes remaining bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) import restrictions on sheep, goats and their products, and aligns the regulations with the current scientific understanding of BSE.
BSE is a fatal brain disease that is part of a group of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Other TSE diseases that can affect animals include scrapie in sheep and goats and chronic wasting disease in deer, elk and moose. When APHIS originally established BSE-related import restrictions, the potential risk of species other than cattle, including sheep and goats, was unknown. However, since BSE was first identified, scientists have learned much more about how BSE works, and their extensive research shows that sheep and goats pose a minimal risk of spreading BSE.
While BSE-related restrictions are no longer needed, APHIS is updating its scrapie requirements for importing live sheep and goats and their germplasm to continue to protect the U.S. herd. Any live sheep or goat not transported directly to slaughter, or to a designated feedlot and then to slaughter, must originate from a scrapie-free country or flock with a herd certification program equivalent to the U.S. Scrapie Flock Certification Program.
APHIS will also allow on a case-by-case basis the importation of certain wild, zoo or other non-bovine ruminant species. The Agency will evaluate the disease risk of each animal and the receiving entity’s ability to manage the risks before deciding whether to issue an import permit allowing the animal entry into the country.
APHIS issued a proposed rule outlining these changes in September 2016. This proposal was based on a thorough review of relevant scientific literature, international guidelines, and a comprehensive evaluation. After considering all comments received on the proposed rule, APHIS determined that these changes will continue to guard against TSEs entering the United States, while allowing additional animals and animal products to be imported into this country. View the final rule at https://www.federalregister.
The MSA is pleased to partner with the Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board to announce that it will be hosting a virtual opportunity for members to participate in the ‘Getting Started in Sheep’ workshop as per the details below:
January 27-29, 2022
facilitated by Gord Schroeder over the Zoom Platform
Times:
January 27th – 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
January 28th – 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
January 29th – 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $175/individual or $300/couple + GST
Participants will be provided with full course materials in printed form prior to the course dates.
A $50 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve a spot. Class size is limited to allow for a good interactive learning experience.
Please call (306) 933-5200 or email sheepdb@sasktel.net to register!
Presenter Bio: Gord has been heavily involved in the sheep industry for over 35 years, 28 years as a large flock lamb producers and 22 years working as the Executive Director for the Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board. He brings a wealth of experience from both the production and industry organizational operations side. Gord’s goal is to share his experience and help individuals get a good start raising sheep.
MSA 2021 Annual General Meeting – November 12th
Due to current public health orders and vaccine mandates, the MSA Board has made the decision to offer the 2021 Annual General meeting in a virtual format only.
Friday, November 12th
6:00 p.m.
Zoom
Registration Required – click here to register
Please click the links below to access the meeting documents:
Please click the link below to review an informational video on the AgriRecovery Drought Assistance Program
A Review of the AgriRecovery, Drought Assistance Programs – Bing video
Fall District Meeting Announcement
The Manitoba Sheep Association Board of Directors are pleased to announce details surrounding its District Meeting, being held in a virtual format. Please see info below regarding the meeting as well as information regarding the 2021 elections.
In addition to the business of the meeting, the MSA is pleased to welcome Manitoba Agriculture staff who will walk members through the new Government Feed Aid program – The Livestock Feed and Transportation Drought Assistance. The presentation will focus on the details of the program as well as the steps involved in applying.
MSA 2021 Annual General Meeting
The MSA Board will attempt to host a hybrid Annual General Meeting in which members can either attend in person or electronically via zoom. Details are still being worked out and a program of speakers in addition to the business meeting is being finalized. Stay tuned for more info. For now, please save the date as per the info below!
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