AND WHEREAS Denmark’s Veterinary Inspector, Dr. Hans Joergen Sorensen, has advised the Canadian Government and the Archers that there was zero risk of BSE contamination and zero contact with any other during their quarantine and their following isolated period, and that they were geographically separated from the animal that has sparked this concern, and that their food was monitored and limited to grass, hay and beet pulp;

NOW THEREFORE LET I’T BE RESOLVED That the Hon. Lyle Vanclief, MP, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, be requested to extend the quarantine period for the Water Buffalo herd owned by  Darrel and Anthea Archer (Fairburn Farm) which would allow for proper and thorough analysis of the herd by responsibie agricultural authorities and veterinarians in a controlled and safe environment while safeguarding the public interest,

AND LET IT FURTHER BE RESOLVED that the Federal Agricultural authorities be urged to provide DarreI and Anthen Archer with fair and adequate compensation to offset their costs incurred in this matter should the final determination result in an order to destroy their Water Buffalo herd.

October 23, 2000
Attention: Honourable Corky Evans, Minister of Agriculture
Honourable Lyle VanClief, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Dear Sirs;
The membership of the Duncan-Cowichan Chamber of Commerce request your assistance in maintaining the Cowichan Valley herd off Water Buffalo.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has given an edict that the Water Buffalo imported by the Archer Family of Fairburn Farm removed from Canada or destroyed by November 6, 2000. This edict is based on the theory that there may have been some risk of exposure by the Buffalo to Bovin Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).

We understand that the disease is transferred through blood or the ingestion of infected animal parts. While the country of origin of the Cowichan Valley Water Buffalo was Denmark, a high status country for International Trade, Bulgaria is the country from which the base herd was delivered to Denmark. The Bulgarians, unlike the Western European or North American livestock industries, do not render animal products for feeding back to animals. Therefore the risk of disease from this source should be less thn if these animals had been born and raised in North America. Furthermore, there are no documented cases of BSE in Water Buffalo anywhere.

While the Chamber membership appreciates the viewpoint of the CFIA, we feel that there are many unanswered questions regarding BSE. We encourage you to assist the Archers, the Farmers of Vancouver Island, and the people of Canada to find some answers. How is it that this herd passed inspection by your agency, only to be issued a destroy order nine months later? Were ALL British cattle destroyed at the first outbreak of the disease in that country? Were ALL Danish cattle?

It appears that the order to destroy the Water Buffalo has a more political reasoning than a health issue.

Rather than being a health threat to the Canadian livestock industry, Water Buffalo may provide an opportunity for diversifying production into specialty products. This forward thinking and entrepreneurial spirit on behalf of the Archers should at the very least be fully financially compensated. Agriculture on Vancouver Island is suffering already, and all and every value-added industry is a great asset as we make our transition from a single resource-based economy.

We suggest that the Water Buffalo be established in long term quarantine at the Archer farm and that a Research and Production Program be developed – assisted by all levels of government and research universities. This should be a cooperative effort between Health, Agricultural, Educational and Research Agencies.

We thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.