WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Canadian veterinary officials said on Thursday they have found the H7N3 strain of avian influenza on a Saskatchewan chicken farm, but noted the case was not the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain seen elsewhere.

Saskatchewan, known for its large expanses of grain fields, accounts for a small fraction of Canadian poultry production.

Canada had its first major outbreak of bird flu in 2004 in British Columbia"e;s densely populated Fraser Valley. About 16 million poultry were destroyed to limit the spread of the virus.

Two smaller outbreaks were seen in 2005 and 2006.