Oct 1
As part of the new funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, producers enrolled on the Scrapie Flock Certification Program (SFCP) will once again receive reimbursements for their contributions to the program.
From now until December 17, 2012, the following support applies:
As of November 1st, 2010 receipts must be submitted within 30 days of the billing date on the veterinarian invoice or shipping receipt to be eligible for reimbursement.
The Canadian Sheep Federation, who administers the financial aspect of the program, will be responsible for mailing out reimbursement cheques to producers.
Producers enrolled on the SFCP are required to submit a brain sample from all animals over 12 months of age that die on the farm. If no animal dies on the farm within a one year period, producers are required to submit a cull for testing (the cull must be at least 24 months of age).
Support for brain testing is once again available through the SFCP at the following laboratories until December 17, 2012:
Producers will not be required to pay upfront for obex testing; however, they must submit the appropriate sample submission form with their sample in order to avoid being charged the testing fees.
Submitting the sample submission form with the sample will tell the laboratory that the producer is enrolled on the SFCP and will notify the lab to invoice the program – not the producer. If producers do not submit the sample submission form with their sample, they will be charged the full cost of the testing fees. Sample submission forms are available by contacting Scrapie Canada.
The SFCP will only pay for testing fees. If producers submit an entire head or carcass to a laboratory there will be sample removal costs, plus disposal costs for the head or carcass. Sample removal and disposal costs will be invoiced to the producer.
Each laboratory has a different requirement for submitting samples. Producers should read this information before submitting their sample.
Producers should share this information with their veterinarian if they are working with a vet to collect and submit a sample. Or, producers can tell their veterinarian to contact Scrapie Canada for more information.
The University of Guelph’s Animal Health Laboratory in Guelph, Ontario:
Prairie Diagnostic Services in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan:
Alberta Agriculture Laboratory in Edmonton, Alberta:
Funding for the Scrapie Flock Certification Program is provided through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) AgriFlexibility program. Opinions expressed in this document are those of the Canadian Sheep Federation and not necessarily those of AAFC.
