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Bovine Tuberculosis in Livestock

Bovine tuberculosis (Bovine TB) is a federally reportable, chronic infectious disease that affects cattle and other mammals, including wildlife and humans in rare cases.
  1. What You Need to Know
  2. Surveillance and Control Measures
  3. History of Confirmed Canadian Outbreaks
  4. Canada's Bovine TB Investigation and International Trade Status
  5. Resources
  6. Mental Health Resources
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1. What You Need to Know

  • Cause: Bovine TB is caused by Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) and can remain dormant in animals for years before symptoms appear.
  • Signs of Disease: Infected animals rarely show symptoms. In cases where disease progresses, signs can include coughing, weight loss and fever.
  • Transmission: Spread occurs mainly through close contact with infected animals or contaminated feed and water. Infected animals shed the bacteria through respiratory secretions like coughing, sneezing or nasal discharge or in their saliva, milk, urine, feces and sometimes in wound drainage if they have open lesions.
  • Risk Other Animals: In addition to cattle, bovine TB can infect deer, goats, pigs, cats, dogs and potentially humans. Wildlife can also be a source of infection in some regions; however, in Canada, the wood bison of northern Alberta and the adjacent Northwest Territories in and around Wood Buffalo National Park is the only wildlife population known to be infected with bovine TB.
  • Human Health Risk: Although bovine TB can affect humans, the risk to the general population in Canada is very low due to milk pasteurization and stringent disease controls.
  • Wildlife in Saskatchewan: Bovine TB has not been detected in wildlife in Saskatchewan to date. However, the Ministry of Environment has implemented some mandatory testing. Learn more at its requirements for submitting animals for bovine TB testing.
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2. Surveillance and Control Measures

In Canada, the disease is managed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), with provincial partners playing a critical role in early detection, response and producer support.

The CFIA is the lead regulatory authority for bovine TB outbreaks in Canada. It is responsible to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and trading partners to follow appropriate response plans and procedures during their investigations. This is to ensure the health and safety of our livestock sector and maintenance of export markets. The CFIA is responsible for placing quarantines, conducting investigations, ordering destruction of infected or exposed animals and things and approving plans for cleaning and disinfection.

In Canada, bovine TB surveillance is integrated with national programs and includes:

  • Routine monitoring at slaughter facilities;
  • On-farm disease investigations when infection is suspected;
  • Quarantine when a case is confirmed;
  • Testing of animals in contact with or near the affected herd; and
  • Collaboration with wildlife agencies if wild animals are involved.

More information on the CFIA is available on its Bovine Tuberculosis Resource Page.

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3. History of Confirmed Canadian Outbreaks

Isolated cases of bovine TB are sporadically found in Canada. Confirmed outbreaks over the last 20 years include:

  • 2025: one herd in Manitoba
  • 2024: one herd in Saskatchewan
  • 2023: one herd in Saskatchewan
  • 2018: one herd in British Columbia
  • 2016: one herd which resided in both Alberta and Saskatchewan
  • 2011: one herd in British Columbia
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4. Canada's Bovine TB Investigation and International Trade Status

Canada can have sporadic detections of bovine TB without impacting its international trade status. It is unknown whether the current case will impact Canada’s bovine TB-free status as individual trading partners can make their own determinations on whether they are willing to continue accepting Canadian cattle or beef products.

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5. Resources

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6. Mental Health Resources

If you are feeling overwhelmed, support is available. Contact your relevant provincial producer organization or one of these ag-focused organizations:

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