By Alicia Draus

Bovine tuberculosis relief coming to ranchers this week

Dec 21, 2016 | 3:19 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Ranchers in southern Alberta affected by the bovine tuberculosis quarantine will be receiving relief just in time for Christmas.

Financial asssitance will be made availabe by the end of the week, and  all ranchers affected by the quarantine to apply for financial aid.

The disease first surfaced in October following a diagnosis of the disease reported in a single cow from a herd near Jenner, slaughtered in the United States. In late November, federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay said the government will provide up to $16.7 million in compensation to western ranchers impacted by the quarantine.

More than 26,000 cattle at more than 45 ranches in Alberta and Saskatchewan remain under quarantine in relation to the disease. Testing on the animals is expected to be completed by the middle of January. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced in its weekly update seven ranches have been removed from the quarantine.

Oneil Carlier, the provincial Agriculture Minister, was in Jenner on Wednesday meeting with affected ranchers.

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Federal officials state more than 10,000 or the animals will be slaughtered, as they are considered  “high-risk” to contract or spread the disease.