A not-for-profit organization dedicated to diagnostic services for animals is getting a funding boost from the Canadian and Saskatchewan governments.
$18-million will support Prairie Diagnostic Services over the next 5 years, at $3.6-million per year, under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).
Agriculture Minister David Marit says it’s an increase of $400-thousand from the funding under the previous Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
“It’s important for us to have this investment with Prairie Diagnostic Services as it looks into all aspects of the livestock sector and the poultry sector, when we look at obviously animal health, disease control and all the diagnostics around that as well,” Marit said. “So it’s very important for us as the livestock and poultry industry is a big part of the ag sector here in the Province of Saskatchewan.”
The investment will support the organization’s work in “disease diagnosis, surveillance, research and supporting animal health and welfare.”
“It’s really in the control of diseases, the monitoring of it, working with our veterinarians, and obviously really to protect public health and our trade,” continued Marit. “We are a trading province, so we want to make sure that we are in full control of animal welfare and animal health as well so it’s important for us from a diagnostic side and a research side as well.”
Prairie Diagnostic Services is located at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.
“The government’s continued support for Prairie Diagnostic Services demonstrates its commitment to livestock health,” Prairie Diagnostic Services CEO Yanyun Huang said in a news release. “The livestock sector plays a vital role in Saskatchewan’s economy and the work we undertake at Prairie Diagnostic Services serves as a safeguard for the health of our livestock, thereby benefiting the economy of Saskatchewan.”
Sustainable CAP is a five-year, $3.5 billion investment by Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments that supports Canada’s agri-food and agri-products sectors.
