Disclaimer: The following information and guidelines are intended to assist emergency responders and individuals preparing for, or responding to, a livestock emergency. The contents of this webpage are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to take the place of any relevant legislation, regulations, municipal bylaws or the instructions received from authorized emergency personnel. In order to develop your own livestock emergency preparedness or response, you will need to contact the appropriate local authorities and obtain advice as to your legal obligations from your own lawyer. The Ministry of Agriculture and Government of Saskatchewan assume no liability or responsibility with respect to loss or damage caused by, or alleged to be caused by, the use of the information contained on this website.
Emergency Contacts and Resources
Know who to contact during a livestock emergency.
Mental Health Supports
Producers and their families, first responders, witnesses and anyone helping with response may require additional mental health support after responding to an emergency involving livestock. Refer to link for a list of resources in Saskatchewan.
Guidelines for Responses to Livestock Emergencies
For livestock-related emergencies, this guide offers key actions for the first person on the scene to assist with the response.
Livestock Rollover
Livestock rollovers—accidents involving the tipping or overturning of trailers transporting animals—pose serious risks to animal welfare, driver safety, and public health.
Disease Outbreak
Protect livestock, human health and the environment when responding to disease outbreak emergencies.
Wildfire
When wildfires strike, the safety and welfare of livestock are critical. Learn how to respond in a wildfire situation.
Structure Fire
During active structure fires, livestock producers should adhere to local officials and first responders for direction.
Flood
Individuals and communities should maintain awareness of potential flood risks and forecasts to improve readiness and response.
Drought
Drought can pose a threat to livestock operations due to limited water and subsequent lack of available feed.
Extreme Weather - Extreme Heat and Cold
Animals exposed to extreme weather conditions are known to have reduced immunity and are prone to disease conditions.
Utility Failures
Power and water failures are likely unexpected and can be caused by other emergencies such as fires, extreme weather and flooding.
Animal Welfare
Animal welfare in Saskatchewan is regulated by both provincial and federal laws.
Stray Livestock
Learn about licensing or regulating animals, including the handling of stray livestock.
Livestock Handling
Learn how to handle livestock during emergencies.
Active Incidents and Emergency Alerts
Individuals and communities should maintain awareness of risks and active incidents. In addition to what may be available locally, the SPSA maintains an active incidents webpage. For emergency alerts, visit SaskAlert or download the SaskAlert app.
Producer Preparedness
Producers seeking information for disease and emergency preparedness can refer to Animal Health Canada’s Emergency Management site.
Premises Identification
Livestock producers may be notified of emergencies or diseases through a number of methods, including the Saskatchewan Premises Identification program, depending on the severity and extent of the disease outbreak. It is critical that producers register in the PID program and update their information regularly.
Recovery
The Provincial Disaster Assistance Program (PDAP) supports recovery from natural disasters. There may be other federal programs that provide assistance.