Bob Lowe, president of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association via Skype. (CHAT News photo)

By Alex McCuaig

Beef Industry

Alberta beef industry in good shape to deal with COVID-19

Mar 20, 2020 | 12:12 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – There are few industries – and likely none in Alberta – which have more experience dealing with quarantines than the provincial beef industry.

According to the president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA), this has allowed for a tried and tested emergency response plan to be in place.

“This (COVID-19) is a pretty serious thing,” said Bob Lowe, who was just recently elected CCA president after holding the vice-president role. “When the government is advising this social distancing, they aren’t kidding. That’s the way to stop this virus.”

And with calving season well underway, “that’s pretty much as good social distancing thing as you can get.”

But he stressed ranchers follow the advice of medical officials to help stem the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

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That’s advice he is taking to heart at his Nanton Bear Trap Feeders operation.

“I’m not letting people – two people at a time – go in a tractor. It’s one person, not two,” said Lowe. “Wash your hands a lot and basically do what our chief medical officer is telling us to do.”

Regarding the experiences ranchers have faced in recent years – from BSE to bovine tuberculosis – Lowe said his group was ready.

That plan went into effect last weekend, “which has proven to be good in the leadership, policy, communications so you aren’t running around blind. We have a direction.

“Ranchers are pretty adaptable and we’ve been put through a lot in the last few years and we’re going to come out stronger at the end of this one too.”

Lowe says cross-border shipments of beef into the United States will continue.

More to come. . .