Age Verification of Cattle
What it is
Canadian cattle producers have a world class industry-led system
to identify individual animals using ear tags and electronic
records. Producers are also using this system to verify cattle
ages to meet market requirements.
Age verification of cattle involves attaching the animal's
actual birth date or calving start date to its identification number
(ear tag). This information can then be accessed in order to provide proof of the animal's age.
To register your cattle birth dates with the Canadian Cattle
Identification Agency, select the REGISTER NOW link below or read on
for further information.
Importance of age verification
Due to recent BSE cases in Canada, our major trading partners
have placed restrictions on the allowable age of imported cattle and
beef. These trade markets, including Japan and the United
States, demand age verified beef from young animals to meet their
food safety requirements. Canadian producers already have a
system of individual animal identification that is envied around the
world. Adding cattle birth dates through age verification will
support access to global trade markets.
Alberta has announced that it is moving towards mandatory age
verification for cattle. Industry consultations planned for
spring 2007 will look at the requirements for regulatory change and
determine a new target date for implementation. As many
British Columbia cattle are fed and finished in Alberta, producers
here in B.C. should be aware of these regulations and prepare their
herds by age verifying early. Early registration will ensure
that when age verification does become mandatory in Alberta, B.C.
producers will be prepared and continue to have access to this
market.
Benefits
The Canadian animal identification system strengthens consumer and
market confidence and is a leading innovation of the beef industry.
Age verification supports access to domestic and export markets and
builds capacity to seize emerging market opportunities.
How it works
Age verification of cattle is simply a process of recording the
actual birth date or calving start date of an animal into a national
database. (If the actual birth date is unknown, then a calving
start date can be used to age verify calves in a group.) This
database, the Canadian Livestock Tracking System, is administered by
the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency. Only the original
owner of the cattle can record birth dates or calving start dates
for their animals.
Registration
The Canadian
Cattle Identification Agency website provides access to the
Canadian Livestock Tracking System, information about the program
and instructional materials.
REGISTER NOW
In order to activate an account for age verification, you will
need the following information:
- Operating/business name
- Producer name
- Business address and phone number
- E-mail address
- One tag number from production inventory
TIP: While using the age verification
database, producers should keep track of transaction id numbers and
birth certificate numbers as they are created. This will
enable producers to recall information quickly and easily in the
future.
Return to Food Safety and Quality Home
|