Guidelines and Eligibility Criteria for the Ontario
Chronic Wasting Disease Voluntary Surveillance Project for Farmed Cervids
Update - April 12, 2007

A1 - The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) in partnership with producers, veterinarians and meat processors have implemented the Ontario Voluntary Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Project (Project) to increase surveillance in farmed cervids (deer and elk). It is important to test a sufficient number of animals in order to be confident CWD is not in Ontario or if it is, so that timely control measures can be taken. In addition, more and more jurisdictions are requiring 100% testing of all mature cervid mortalities (on-farm deaths and slaughter animals) before they will allow live animal imports.

Q2 - Is there financial assistance for producers to offset the costs associated with collecting and testing samples for CWD? If so, what costs are eligible under the Project and how quickly will testing fees and sampling allowances be paid?

A2 - Yes. The total funding for the Project is $101,050. OMAFRA initially allocated $75,000 for the Project in 2006. OMAFRA also assisted the Ontario Deer and Elk Farmers Association (ODEFA) in securing an additional $26,050 towards the Project under the CORD IV Program which is administered by the Agricultural Adaptation Council. Eligible costs include CWD laboratory testing fees and sample collection fees. The Project will pay for 100% of CWD lab testing costs incurred at the Animal Health Laboratory (AHL). Testing costs will be paid directly by the Project Administrator, so there is no need for producers to pay for testing and then be reimbursed. Producers will automatically (no need to apply) receive a sampling allowance of $45/sample tested to encourage surveillance and to offset the costs associated with collecting and shipping samples. Payments to producers will be processed approximately every 3 or 4 months.

Q3 - Who is administering the project?

A3 - AgriTrace International a division of Beef Improvement Ontario (BIO) will administer the Project on behalf of OMAFRA. BIO was a natural choice to administer the Project since BIO is also administering the National Voluntary CWD Herd Certification Program for Ontario producers. Brian Pogue is the BIO contact and can be contacted at (519) 767-2665 extension 303 or by email at bpogue@biobeef.com . Brian Tapscott and Dr. Bob Wright, OMAFRA will assist producers in coordinating abattoirs, slaughter dates, sample collection and testing dates during the initial stages of the Project.

Q4 - When did the Project start and how long will funding be available?

A4 - The Project started April 1, 2006 and will continue until the allocated funding is spent.

Q5 - How will producers know when Project funding is coming to an end?

A5 - Producers that received this information and who are on OMAFRA's cervid mailing list will receive email updates on the status of the Project and its funding. The OMAFRA website http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/alternat/deerelk.htm will also provide Project updates. To get accurate updates on the status of the Project's funding, producers should contact Brian Tapscott or Dr. Bob Wright, OMAFRA prior to submitting samples. Producers should submit samples for testing as soon as possible in order to improve their chances of accessing Project funding.

Q6 - How many farmed cervids does the Project expect to test? How many samples from farmed cervids have been tested to date?

A6 - Based on available funding the target is to test a total of 900 farmed cervids. As of March 31, 2007, 407 samples have been tested. All results have been negative.

Q7 - Is the Ontario CWD Voluntary Surveillance Project voluntary or mandatory?

A7 - The Project is voluntary.

Q8 - Who is eligible to participate in the Project?

A8 - All deer and/or elk farmers who are residents of Ontario are eligible.

Q9 - What species of farmed cervids are covered by the project?

A9 - Elk, red deer, elk/red deer hybrids, fallow deer, white-tailed deer and any other farmed or captive cervid species are eligible under the Project.

Q10 - What types of surveillance animals are being tested?

A10 - The Project will include on-farm deaths and condemned slaughter animals. It will also include healthy slaughter animals where carcasses HAVE BEEN "held" pending test results. The Project will NOT test or fund samples where the carcasses from healthy slaughter animals have NOT been "held" by the meat inspection staff pending a negative CWD test result.

Q11 - How old must animals be in order to be eligible for testing and subsequent funding?

A11 - All animals tested must be over 12 months of age which is the age currently used by the National CWD Voluntary Herd Certification Program

Q12 - What animal identification is required?

A12 - All forms of identification must be recorded on the AHL CWD submission form. In instances where the heads are to be submitted to either AHL, a veterinarian or government staff for tissue collection, all identification must remain attached to the head. This is especially important for those herds on the National Voluntary CWD Herd Certification Program.

For healthy slaughter animals where the tissue samples have been collected by a government staff or appointed veterinarian, there is no need to send the actual ear tags with the tissue samples, but the following identification MUST be recorded:

• OMAFRA meat inspection "held tags" #
• Canadian Food Inspection Ageny's (CFIA) Health of Animals metal ear tag # (i.e. - 34435S7)
• farm dangle tag # (i.e. - Yellow 013)

For on-farm deaths and condemned slaughter animals the following identification must be recorded:

• CFIA's Health of Animals metal ear tag # (i.e. - 34435S7)
• farm dangle tag # (i.e. - Yellow 013).

Q13 - Is there any limit to the number of samples that producers can submit under the Project?

A13 - Yes there is a limit. The project will only cover a maximum of 30% of the number of animals in the herd that were greater than 12 months of age as of July 1, 2006. This will ensure more herds have an opportunity to participate in the project and will encourage surveillance from a larger number of herds. For example, a herd of 100 animals of which 80 animals were over 12 months of age as of July 1, 2006, would be eligible to test and receive funding for a total of 24 animals (30% of 80 animals) during the course of the Project (not 24 animals every year).

Q14 - Is the Ontario Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Project the same as the National Voluntary Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program?

A14 - No. The Surveillance Project is different from the Herd Certification Program. The objectives of the Project are to increase CWD Surveillance in Ontario farmed cervids and to increase participation in the National CWD Voluntary Herd Certification Program. The objective of the Herd Certification Program is to provide owners with the opportunity to have their herds identified as elite with respect to CWD. Membership in the Herd Certification Program provides assurances to potential purchasers of animals that a purchase from a herd with the same level has the same risk of being infected with CWD.

Q15 - Are there any guidelines relating to surveillance that producers should be aware of?

A15 - Yes. For herds enrolled in the National CWD Voluntary Herd Certification Program, it is the producer's responsibility to ensure that they meet the national standards. Fulfilling the eligibility requirements of the Surveillance Project does not necessarily mean that producers will meet the National CWD Voluntary Herd Certification Program.

Q16 - Do producers have to be enrolled in the National Voluntary CWD Herd Certification Program in order to be eligible to participate in the Ontario CWD Surveillance Project?

A16 - No. Although OMAFRA encourages producers to enroll in the Herd Certification Program, it is not mandatory in order to be eligible for the Ontario CWD Surveillance Project.

Q17 - What provincially inspected abattoirs can a producer use to in order to submit samples from healthy slaughter animals?

A17 - A complete list of provincially licensed abattoirs is available on the OMAFRA website at:

Provincially Licensed Slaughter Plants By Animal Class

Please note an abattoir's participation in the Project is voluntary. In the first year of the Project, 9 different abattoirs chose to participate. In order to provide broader access to the Project and to get improved surveillance from across Ontario, the number of abattoirs participating in the project will gradually increase. Please contact Brian Tapscott or Dr. Bob Wright to determine which abattoirs will be used for the 2007-2008 year.

Q18 - What forms or documents are required and how do I get them?

A18 - All participants must complete and submit the following forms (available from Tapscott or Wright or from OMAFRA website) when submitting samples:

• AHL CWD Submission Form for Healthy Slaughter Animals (NOT to be used for on-farm deaths and condemned slaughter animals).
• AHL CWD Submission Form for On-Farm Deaths (NOT to be used for healthy slaughter animals).

Q19 - How do I submit samples from SLAUGHTER ANIMALS?

A19 - If interested in submitting samples from slaughter animals, producers must follow the following steps:

Step 1 - Producer should contact the abattoir to reserve a kill date/time. For producers participating in the National CWD Voluntary Herd Certification Program producers must make slaughter arrangements (CFIA transport permit and/or letter from abattoir) at least 2 weeks prior to slaughter in order to meet the National Program standards. Make sure the abattoir knows that you want to participate in the CWD Surveillance Project when making your reservation and that tested carcasses from healthy slaughter animals MUST be "held" (cannot leave abattoir) pending a negative test result.

Step 2 - For slaughter animals producers should then contact Brian Tapscott or Dr. Bob Wright at least 2 weeks prior to the slaughter date so they can ensure the abattoir is aware of the Project's requirements (i.e. - carcasses must be held pending test results, thus they must have adequate cooler capacity for "holding" the carcasses) for an extra few days.

Step 3 - Producer should contact the CFIA District office for a transport authorization permit (TAP).

Step 4 - OMAFRA contact AHL to request/schedule timely testing of slaughter samples to ensure the carcasses are released as soon as possible.

Step 5 - OMAFRA staff will arrange for the collection and transportation of the samples tissues for healthy slaughter animals only.

Step 6 - Producer complete an AHL - CWD Submission Form for slaughter animals (NOT to be used for on-farm deaths) that must accompany the samples to AHL.

Step 7 - AHL will test samples & contact OMAFRA Meat Inspection staff with results. AHL will also send test results to the producer via email, fax or mail.

Step 8 - OMAFRA Meat Inspection Staff will arrange for stamping and the "release" of carcasses that test negative for CWD.

Step 9 - Producer can contact the abattoir to confirm when meat can be picked up.

A20 - Yes, carcasses being tested for CWD MUST be "held" pending a negative test result. AHL only tests for CWD one day each week, thus it is important to plan the testing date to closely follow the kill date in order to minimize the length of time the carcasses must be "held". Please account for the time it will take for the samples to be couriered to AHL, as producers CANNOT transport samples from slaughter animals to AHL. Samples must be to AHL by 4 p.m. on day before the test is scheduled. Test results will normally be available late on the day the test was run, but in the event of technical difficulties could be delayed until the following afternoon. OMAFRA Meat Inspection staff must then make arrangements for a designated appointee to visit the abattoir to stamp and release "held" carcasses before the carcasses can be picked up. Carcasses cannot be released to the producer until they are stamped and released by a meat inspector or designated appointee. The actual holding time will depend on which day of the week the animal was killed, sample transit time, testing turn around time and the availability of appointed staff able to release carcasses.

A21 - Submissions from on-farm deaths can be submitted directly to AHL without OMAFRA involvement since there is no need to hold carcasses and thus testing turn around time is not as critical as it is for healthy slaughter animals.

A22 - A section of the brain stem (obex) AND retropharyngeal lymph nodes are required from all cervid species. For elk (Cervus canadensis subspecies), red deer (Cervus elaphus subspecies) and fallow deer (Dama dama subspecies), AHL requires brain stem (obex) as its first choice for analysis and the retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RPLN) will be retained in the event further testing is required. For white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus subspecies), the laboratory will first analyse the RPLN, and the obex will be retained in the event it is needed for further testing.

A23 - Handling and Collection of Samples from Slaughter Animals and On-Farm Deaths

• Samples from healthy slaughter animals must be collected by an appointed veterinarian or by a government staff appointed under OMAFRA's Food Safety and Quality Act. AHL staff may collect the sample if the head (with identification attached) is delivered to AHL by government staff or by courier.
• Producers can submit heads from condemned slaughter animals or on-farm deaths to a veterinarian or directly to AHL. Ear tags must remain attached. Heads should be fresh on ice packs if possible, otherwise they should be frozen.
• Samples (brain stems (obex) and retropharyngeal lymph nodes) collected by a veterinarian should be submitted to AHL with the appropriate identification and the appropriate AHL - CWD submission form. If the sample is fresh, place it on ice packs, otherwise tissues should be frozen.

A24 - Transportation of Samples

• In order to maintain the "chain of custody", producers cannot transport samples (tissues or heads) from healthy slaughter animals. Samples from healthy slaughter animals must be couriered or transported by government staff to AHL.
• Producers can transport samples (tissues or heads) from on-farm deaths or condemned slaughter animals to either a veterinarian or directly to AHL. The samples from on-farm deaths and condemned slaughter animals can also be couriered.

A25 - Fresh or frozen specimens (not entire head) on ice packs can be couriered to AHL by Purolator at no charge to shipper if way bill is marked with "Purolator - U of G incoming account # 0966901". Producers wishing to submit heads from on-farm deaths may take the heads directly to AHL or ship them by courier at their own (the producer's) expense. Detailed AHL shipping instructions are available on the AHL website at:

Packaging & shipping lab submissions

Remember to include, with the samples, the necessary forms/documentation outlined in Q&A 18.

A26 - The AHL Guelph specimen reception is open 8:15 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9-12 and 1-5 on Sunday. Do not ship perishable samples to arrive at AHL on a holiday or weekend. There is also a sample drop box available. All specimens put in the drop box should be packaged with ice packs.

Ship or deliver the samples to:

Animal Health Laboratory - Guelph
Laboratory Services Division
University of Guelph
Door P2, Building 49, McIntosh Lane
Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1

A27 - Yes; however this could delay testing and subsequently the release of carcasses of slaughter animals, since samples must then be forwarded to AHL Guelph for CWD testing. When timing is critical (i.e. - healthy slaughter animals) samples should be sent directly to AHL Guelph. When timing is less critical (i.e. - on-farm deaths) samples can be delivered to AHL Kemptville at:

Animal Health Laboratory - Kemptville
Laboratory Services Division
University of Guelph
From Concession Rd., enter Kemptville College, 79 Shearer Drive
Kemptville, Ontario K0G 1J0

Q28 - How has the CWD Surveillance Project progressed during the first year?

A28 - The following summarizes the Project's results as of March 31, 2007

• 34 herds have participated
• 18 herds have submitted samples from healthy slaughter animals
• 2 herds have submitted samples from condemned slaughter animals
• 24 herds have submitted samples from on-farm deaths
• 407 samples were tested and ALL were negative
• 226 healthy slaughter animals, 52 condemned slaughter animals & 129 on farm deaths
• 240 elk, 103 white-tailed deer, 43 red deer, 20 fallow deer and 1 reindeer
• 29 pilot kills were conducted at 9 different abattoirs
• 45% of the budget for testing/collection has been used in 2006-2007
• 55% of budget for testing/collection remains for 2007-2008
  

A29 - Contact Brian Tapscott or Dr. Bob Wright to discuss your participation in the Project.

| Top of Page |