The Government of Yukon has issued a new, 10-year Control Order that will come into effect on January 1, 2025. Similar to the previous Control Order, the new Order will reduce the risk of respiratory disease spreading from domestic sheep and goats to wild populations of mountain goats and thinhorn sheep in the Yukon.
The new Control Order is based on program evaluation, findings from an industry impact assessment and an updated risk assessment report that shows there is ongoing risk of respiratory disease transfer from domestic sheep and goats to wild populations.
The new Order contains changes that focus on testing and inspection activities based on risk and offer new options for animal import. These new import options aim to reduce some of the challenges faced by sheep and goat farmers that wish to purchase stock from outside the territory while still reducing the risk of disease transmission. Specific changes to the Order include:
- decreasing record-keeping and other administrative requirements;
- applying a risk-based approach to determine how often to test animals and inspect enclosures; and
- modifying testing and quarantine requirements for imported animals.
Input was gathered from sheep and goat owners as well as research experts, industry partners, First Nations and other stakeholders to develop the assessment reports that informed the new Control Order.
By implementing the Control Order, the Yukon has taken the strongest approach across Canada to protect thinhorn sheep and mountain goats from the risk of respiratory disease spread from domestic sheep and goats. The renewed Order aims to balance the protection of wild thinhorn sheep and mountain goat populations with responsible agriculture in the Yukon.
I would like to thank all the farmers and producers who have consistently gone above and beyond to follow the previous Order. Their efforts have ensured the protection of the wild thinhorn sheep and mountain goat populations in the Yukon. Our government remains committed to safeguarding the Yukon’s environment, including its wild and domestic animals, and this new, updated Order is another significant step in that direction.
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In 2018, the Government of Yukon issued a Control Order pursuant to section 21 of the Animal Health Act to address the risk of respiratory disease spreading from domestic to wild sheep and goats. Control Order 2018-001 came into force on January 1, 2020, and is set to expire on December 31, 2024.
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The primary pathogen of concern for causing respiratory disease in wild sheep and goats is Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. ovi). This bacteria may be carried by healthy domestic sheep and goats, but it can cause severe disease and population declines when introduced to wild sheep and goat populations.
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To date, there have been no reported cases of M. ovi in thinhorn sheep and mountain goat populations in the Yukon.
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A Control Order is a tool under the Animal Health Act that allows the Yukon government to address an animal health issue in the whole or part of the Yukon. Control Orders are made on the recommendation of the Chief Veterinary Officer and are jointly issued by the Ministers of Energy, Mines and Resources and Environment
There is concern about the impact that respiratory pathogens, particularly Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. ovi), may have on wild thinhorn sheep or mountain goats if the bacteria is introduced. Respiratory pathogens have historically been transmitted to wild sheep or goat populations following contact with domestic sheep and goats, resulting in large scale die-offs of bighorn sheep in Canada and the United States of America for multiple years after the initial outbreak.
Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
[email protected]
Linea Volkering
Communications, Environment
867-332-2688
[email protected]
Kate Erwin
Communications, Energy, Mines and Resources
867-667-3183
[email protected]