The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging cattle producers to vaccinate their herds against anthrax.

Three cows in the RM of Whitehead, southwest of Brandon, tested positive for the disease last week.

"Anthrax occurs occasionally and I think we have to expect cases every year," says Dr. Lynn Bates, veterinarian with the CFIA. "Having said that, in this area in the RM of Whitehead, we haven't seen any anthrax cases in the last ten years. Normally we get the more occasional case in the south east, south central and Interlake regions."

She explains spores were probably brought to the soil surface by flooding earlier in the season.

"We get situations like we did this last year where we have flooding and disruption of soil and this allows the anthrax spores to come to the top if they are there," she says. "For producers wanting to be protected, they should discuss the use of annual vaccinations with their private veterinarian."

"If you have the animals vaccinated prior to going out onto pasture in spring, certainly that's very good protection on an annual basis."