American horses send clap to cousins in Canada (CAN)

By JADED MARE

Oh, look. Naughty horses in America with clap have sent it to their cousins in Canada, and just in time for Christmas. Probably not what Canadian horses expected to find in those nicely wrapped packages full of . . . never mind. Ooh, and all frozen too. Brrrr. We found a picture of the stuff but it’s just too yucky. Oh, my.

That friendly circle known as the cattle network, which is really full of people and not cows at all, are agitated about all this because . . . ? Here is what they have to say.

Cross-posted from CattleNetwork.

There are no human health implications with this disease.

Hmmm, does that mean people handling the um, stuff . . . ?

Or humans eating the meat from these horses, cause they kill horses from everywhere all the time, like pets and show horses, there in Canada for our dining pleasure. Oh, yeah, right, they’ll probably say it all cooks out like the carcinogens and other dangerous chemicals circulating around a horse’s innards from the ritual pharmas they are given while it’s okay for them to live and do things for people.

The post goes on:

United States officials have confirmed that three stallions on a Kentucky farm tested positive for CEM. Shipments of frozen semen from one of these stallions were sent to Ontario and Alberta in the spring of 2008. CFIA and provincial animal health officials are currently tracing the shipments to identify potentially exposed animals.

Spring 2008? Guess they were hoping to get away with it.

To date, potentially infected farms have been identified in Ontario and Alberta. As a precaution, the CFIA has quarantined animals on the farms, and these measures will remain in place until all animals have tested negative for CEM. As investigations in Canada and the U.S. continue, animals on additional farms may be quarantined.

CEM is a highly contagious disease that affects the reproductive tract of horses. The disease can cause temporary infertility in mares. In most cases, CEM can be successfully treated with disinfectants and antibiotics. CEM is a reportable disease in Canada. This means that all suspected cases must be reported to the CFIA for immediate investigation by inspectors. There are international trade implications if a country loses its CEM-free status.

Until more information is available from the U.S., the CFIA is recommending that the equine industry and importers in Canada exercise caution and refrain from importing breeding horses, embryos and semen from the U.S.

CEM is primarily spread directly during natural breeding, but can also be transmitted during artificial insemination and through contaminated instruments and equipment, such as tail bandages, buckets, sponges and gloves. Therefore, horse owners and veterinarians should maintain strict hygiene when handling breeding mares and stallions to prevent infection.

Infected stallions tend to be the major source of infection, as they can harbour the disease for years without showing any clinical signs. The primary symptoms of infection in mares are short-term infertility and vaginal discharge, but some mares can also carry the disease without clinical signs. Any horse owner or veterinarian who suspects a horse under their care may be infected with CEM should immediately contact their local CFIA District office (a listing can be found in the blue pages of local phone directories).

CattleNetwork.com >>

The Canadiancattlewhatsits are more sanguine about the whole affair, and warn that boy horses can carry the bacteria on their dangly bits for years to come. Canadian Cattlemen >>

The CFIA gave out a news release thingy. CFIA news release, Standardbred Canada website >>

Why, with the hue and cry by the horse industry about all the unwanted horses, are they making so many of them by artificial means? Oh, sorry. We forgot. When they are done with them, they can kill them in the peaceful confines of a slaughter house.