There were 18 premises linked to the herd where all six confirmed cases of TB were found, said the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) chief veterinarian Harpreet Kochhar.

The CFIA estimates there are at least 10,000 head at the 18 “index herd” locations.

“Nearly all the cattle from these 18 premises have been tested, and the removal and humane destruction of all animals on these premises is continuing,” said the agency in November.

Under existing CFIA regulation, producers will receive compensation for animals that must be euthanized. Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay has stated that Ottawa is working with the Alberta government on support for producers impacted by the quarantine, although details are not yet known.

The CFIA has also said it supports setting up a feedlot for quarantined animals, but a specific location hadn’t been announced at that date.

Testing is expected to continue for months, although Kochhar said they’ve been able to “expedite testing” by bringing in staff from across the country to help.

The strain of TB identified is closely related to a strain originating from cattle in central Mexico in 1997. Because of this, the CFIA believes this case did not originate from the local elk population.

—Compiled from Real Agriculture news team and CFIA website