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This section describes the general identification procedures
for livestock, official Identification, and record keeping. |
Objective
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1. |
Livestock identification is a cornerstone on which the National Animal
Health Program is based. The ability to accurately identify and trace the movement of
livestock cannot be overstated. It is essential to maintaining and ensuring a healthy
livestock population. |
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2. |
Accredited veterinarians are an integral part of this process. The
accredited veterinarian must carefully record the identity of animal(s) they inspect or
test in the course of performing their official duties and functions. Records of animals
identified are the only means of tracing diseased animals to the location where they were
identified. The following information should be recorded: a. species
b. breed
c. sex
d. age
e. tags, tattoos, leg bands, brands or electronic implants
f. colour or markings
g. registration numbers (if purebreds). |
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3. |
In the case of purebred animals, the information on the
registration/pedigree certificates must be verified for animals being identified as
purebred on a health certificate or test chart. Accredited veterinarians must not insert
an ear tag into the ear of an animal bearing a Health of Animals (HofA), a Canadian
Livestock Identification Agency (CLIA) or an Agri-Tracabilité Quebec (ATQ) ear tag, which
may compromise the ability to trace the animal. Record the identity of the animal with the
ear tag already in place. |
Official Identification
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4. |
Three official animal identification systems have been approved by the CFIA:
1) HofA ear tag,
2) ATQ/CLIA ear tags, and
3) legible tattoos.
While all three of these forms of identification are acceptable to the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA), tattoos alone are not permitted for cattle and swine. Mexico's Secretaria de Agricultura, Ganadería, Dessarrollo Rural, Pesca y
Alimentación (SAGARPA) accepts HofA and CLIA/ATQ ear tags. |
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5. |
Accredited veterinarians may mark or cause an animal inspected to be marked
with a tag or in other such manner as the Minister may direct so as to identify the
animal. This would include, but is not limited to, livestock inspected or tested for
export, disease eradication programs, or Canada Health Accredited Herd (CHAH) programs. |
HofA Ear Tags
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6. |
When HofA ear tags are used, they must be inserted in an animal's left ear.
These tags come in two sizes. The larger one is used to identify cattle, elk and bison.
The smaller one is used to identify sheep, goats, pigs, and deer. a. Ensure
that the proper size is used.
b. Ear tags are available to accredited veterinarians through CFIA district offices.
c. Ear tags should be placed in the proximal third of the anterior border of the animal's
ear. The alpha-numeric sequence must face "out." That is, the number should
appear on the dorsal surface of the ear. When inserting an ear tag, always leave a small
space between the edge of the ear and the outer margins of the tag. The district
veterinarian will demonstrate the proper technique if clarification is required. |
| Exceptions |
7. |
Exceptions: a HofA ear tag does not have to be applied: a.
if an animal bears a legible tattoo, in accordance with a recognized registered breed
association;
b. if an animal bears a HofA ear tag or a CFIA-approved tag applied by the industry's
Canadian Cattle Identification Program.
c. Ear tags should not be applied to horses. Horses are to be identified by describing the
animal, freeze brand, lip tattoo (see 2.2 Identification of Horses).
d. Alternate means of identification have been negotiated with the USDA for feeder swine
from Canada. |
Other Identification
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8. |
Horses are usually identified by means of diagrams associated with official
documents, and ratites are identified by leg band or microchip. Reference to specific
export identification requirements are contained on the export certificate for the species
being exported. Consult with the district veterinarian for details. |
Record Keeping and Administration
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9. |
HofA ear tags are identified in alpha-numeric sequence and are distributed
by the CFIA in boxes containing 100 tags. The tag numbers issued to each accredited
veterinarian are recorded in an ear tag registry maintained at the district office. |
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10. |
Accredited veterinarians must maintain a record of the ear tags issued to
them, including where and when they were used. These records are to be maintained for a
minimum of 10 years. As previously mentioned, records of animals identified are the only
means of tracing diseased animals to the location where they were tagged. It is
imperative, therefore, that orderly records of animal identification be maintained in a
safe location. |
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11. |
CLIA/ATQ tags are issued and records are maintained by autonomous
organizations. For more information: Canadian
Livestock Identification Agency or Agri-Traçabilité
Québec. |
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This section discusses the physical description of horses as
official identification tags are not used. Clear, uniform, and accurate descriptions of
their physical attributes are required. |
Horse Identification
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Electronic Chip Implants |
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1. |
While implants are frequently used in many species of animals, the
usefulness of this means of identification is limited to those applications where the
animal is accessible for a reading to be conducted and a chip reading device is available.
For those reasons more traditional means of animal identification are currently in use at
ports of entry into Canada. Electronic ID does have usefulness in domestic applications,
particularly when combined with some other form of identification in horses. |
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Drawings |
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2. |
Documents identifying a horse for test or for export certification require
an accurate drawing of the horse, and an accurate description. In addition to brands or
tattoos that the horse may bear, look for and identify unique distinguishing marks such as
hair patterns or scars. A copy of descriptive nomenclature for colouring and markings has
been produced by the International Equestrian Federation, and is included on the following
pages. Additional numbered ID may be required under certain circumstances. Drawings on
test and export certificates should match, and the written descriptions should agree with
drawings. See 5.6 Export to the United
States-Horses and 6.2 Export to
Mexico-Horses for more detail. |
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Height |
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3. |
The height of a horse is normally recorded in "hands," measured
at the top of the withers. One hand equals four inches. |
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Colour |
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Black: |
When black pigment is general throughout the coat, limbs, mane and tail,
with no pattern factor present other than white markings. |
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Brown: |
When there is a mixture of black and brown pigment in the coat, with black
limbs, mane and tail. |
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Bay-brown: |
When the predominate colour is brown, with muzzle bay, black limbs, mane
and tail. |
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Bay: |
Bay varies considerably in shade from dull red approaching brown, to a
yellowish colour approaching chestnut, but it can be distinguished from the chestnut by
the fact that the bay has a black mane and tail and almost invariably has black on the
limbs and tips of the ears. |
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Chestnut: |
This colour consists of yellow-coloured hair in different degrees of
intensity, which may be noted if thought desirable. A "true" chestnut has a
chestnut mane and tail which may be lighter or darker than the body colour. Lighter
coloured chestnut may have flaxen mane and tail. The sorrel colour must
be reported under that name. |
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Grey: |
When the body coat is a varying mosaic of black and white hair, with black
skin. With advancing age, the coat grows lighter in colour. The flea-bitten grey may
contain three colours or the two basic colours and should be so described. A pure white is
exceptional. |
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Mouse: |
This description is sometimes used for a grey horse with black mane and
tail. |
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Blue Roan: |
When the body colour is black or black-brown, with a mixture of white hair,
which gives a blue tinge to the coat. On the limbs from the knees and hocks down, the
black hair usually predominates. |
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Bay Roan: |
When the body colour is bay or bay-brown, with an admixture of white hair,
which gives a reddish tinge to the coat. On the limbs from the knees and hocks down the
black hairs usually predominate. |
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Strawberry/
Chestnut Roan: |
When the body colour is chestnut with an admixture of white hairs. |
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Blue Dun: |
The body colour is a dilute black evenly distributed. The mane and tail are
black. There may or may not be a dorsal band (list) and/or withers stripe. The skin is
black. |
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Yellow Dun: |
There is a diffuse yellow pigment in the hair. The mane and tail are black.
There may or may not be a dorsal band (list) and/or withers stripe and bars on the legs.
The striping is usually associated with black pigment on the head and limbs. The skin is
black. |
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Piebald: |
The body coat consists of large irregular patches of black and white. The
line of demarcation between the two colours is generally well defined. |
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Skewbald: |
The body consists of large irregular patches of white and of any definite
colour except black. The line of demarcation between the colours is generally
well-defined. |
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Odd Coloured: |
The body coat consists of large irregular patches of more than two colours,
which may merge into each other at the edges of the patches. |
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Isabella: |
The body coat is of a cream colour, with black mane and tail. |
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Cream: |
The body coat is of a cream colour, with nonpigmented skin. The iris is
deficient in pigment and is often devoid of it, giving the eye a pinkish or bluish
appearance. |
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Palomino: |
The body coat is a newly-minted gold coin colour (lighter or darker shades
are permissible) with a white mane and tail. |
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Appaloosa: |
Body colour is grey, covered with a mosaic of black or brown spots. |
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Unique Markings |
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Withers Stripe: |
Zebra band across the withers. |
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List: |
A dorsal band of black hair which extends from the withers backwards to the
base of the tail. |
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White Marks |
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The characteristics of all white marks must be described: A white mark
can be regular or irregular. It can be mixed with the hair of the coat, completely or in
part, or at the edge. It can be bordered, a band of black skin shows under the white hair
at the edge of the mark (the area appears bluish). |
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Head |
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The description should begin at the forehead, followed by the nasal bone,
the muzzle, lips and chin. |
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Star: |
Any white mark on the forehead. Size, shape, intensity, position and
coloured markings (if any) on the white to be specified. Should the markings in the region
of the centre of the forehead consist of a few white hairs only, it should be so described
and not referred to as a star. |
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Stripe: |
The narrow white marking down the face not wider than the flat anterior
surface of the nasal bones. In many cases, the star and stripe are continuous and should
be described as star and stripe connected. When the stripe is separate and distinct from
the star it should be described as interrupted stripe. When no star is present the point
of origin of the stripe should be indicated. The termination of the stripe and any
variation in breadth, direction and any markings on the white should be so stated, e.g.
broad stripe, narrow stripe, inclined to left, etc. Any markings on the white should be
stated. |
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Blaze: |
A white marking covering almost the whole of the forehead between the eyes
and extending beyond the width of the nasal bones and usually to the muzzle. Any
variations in direction, termination and any markings on the white should be stated. |
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White Face: |
When the white covers the forehead and front of the face, extending
laterally towards the mouth. The extension may be unilateral or bilateral, in which case
it should be described accordingly. |
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Snip: |
An isolated white marking, independent of those already named, and situated
between or in the region of the nostrils. Its size, position and intensity should be
specified. When a snip is connected with a stripe it should be recorded as such, e.g.
star, stripe connected snip. |
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Flesh Mark: |
Lack of pigmentation. A flesh mark is described as such and not as a white
mark. Black spots within the flesh mark are to be indicated. All lip markings, whether
flesh marks or white marks, should be accurately described. |
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White Muzzle: |
When the white embraces both lips and extends to the region of the
nostrils. |
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Limbs |
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All white markings on the limbs must be accurately defined and the upper
limit precisely stated with reference to points of the anatomy, e.g. white to mid-pastern,
white to upper third of cannon. The use of such terms as "sock" or
"stocking" are not acceptable. The exact location must be specified, examples
are listed below: Examples:
- White coronet; white pastern; white fetlock; white to knee; white to hock; white to hind
quarter;
- White patch on coronet (anterior, lateral, medial, posterior);
- White ring around limb: does not extend down to the coronet.
The presence of coloured spots in white marks should be recorded. Black spots in a
white coronet are referred to as ermine marks. |
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Whorls-Cowlicks |
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Whorls or cowlicks are changes in the hair pattern, and may take various
forms simple, tufted, feathered or sinuous. Their position must be clearly specified. |
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Illustrations of Markings |
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