Animal Identification

Overview of requirements for animal identification:

Overview of Requirements for Beef Producers: Livestock Identification and Traceability Program

      • Cattle need to be identified with an approved tag before leaving the farm of origin.
      • If you do not have proper equipment to identify your livestock safely, you can move your cattle to an approved tagging site to be identified. You will need to provide the tagging site with the approved tags to apply to your livestock. Find a tagging site near you.
      • If you receive an animal that is not identified with an approved tag, you must apply an approved tag to it. You may only apply approved tags that have issued to your site. You must keep records for a minimum of two years that include the identification number of the new tag and enough information about the animal to be able to trace its origin. Learn how to report a tag replacement event to the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) database.
      • If you need to apply an approved tag to an animal or dead stock that already bears an approved/revoked tag, you must report the number of the new approved tag and the number of the previously approved tag to the CLTS database within 30 days of the new tag being applied. Learn how to report a tag cross-reference event to the CLTS database.
      • If you move dead stock off your site for disposal, the dead stock must be identified with an approved tag and you must report the tag using the retire event in the CLTS database. Learn how to report a tag retire event in the CLTS database.

To purchase approved indicators click here

To learn how to activate your webstore account click here

CCIA Board Member Producer Associations – Beef
British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association
Alberta Beef Producers
Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association
Manitoba Beef Producers
Beef Farmers of Ontario
Les Producteurs de bovins du Québec
Maritime Beef Council
Canadian Cattle Association

CHANGES TO DAIRY REPORTING

As of October 5, 2020, Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) stopped being the responsible administrator for dairy bovine and white dairy tags, and ALL REPORTING associated with those tags will be submitted to the DairyTrace program.

If you have dairy bovine and/or white dairy tags you will need a DairyTrace account.

DairyTrace customer service can be contacted at 1-866-55-TRACE (1-866-558-7223) or by email at info@DairyTrace.ca

MIXED LIVESTOCK OPERATORS

Nothing will change for the iconic CCIA yellow tags. The CLTS database will remain active for producers with beef cattle, sheep, bison, goat, cervid and even dairy producers who use yellow tags.

If livestock operators submit a mix of white dairy tags with yellow tag data, the white dairy tag information that is required to be reported under Part XV of the Health of Animals Regulation will be re-directed to the DairyTrace program automatically. The charts below will specify how to proceed with these mixed (yellow/white tag) situations and event specific submissions. However, dairy producers who use a mix of yellow and white dairy tags, must have an active DairyTrace account for submitting their white dairy tag data.

In order for the data to flow between DairyTrace and CCIA/CLTS, the DairyTrace account number, or DairyTrace Stakeholder Number, needs to be added to a current CCIA/CLTS account.

 DATA TO CONTINUE REPORTING TO CLTS

There are no changes required for the following operation types that have white dairy tags. These operation types may continue to report to CCIA/CLTS as per usual.  Data that is required to be reported under Part XV of the Health of Animals Regulation, or where specific consent is provided by the account holder, shall be transferred by CCIA to the DairyTrace database.

OPERATIONS THAT WILL CONTINUE REPORTING TO CCIA/CLTS as usual
Importers – mixed loads
Exporters
Intermediate sites (fairs/exhibitions/feedlots/auction markets/etc.)
Terminal sites

While any of the above listed operation types dealing with animals that have white dairy tags may report directly to either Responsible Administrator (CCIA/CLTS or Lactanet/DairyTrace), for those operations that separate reporting by event type, CCIA/CLTS CAN CONTINUE to accept many animal events for dairy bovine white tag numbers.

ANIMAL EVENTS WHERE CAN THE EVENT DATA BE REPORTED?
Birthdate CAN CONTINUE TO REPORT TO CCIA/CLTS
Imported CAN CONTINUE TO REPORT TO CCIA/CLTS
Move In CAN CONTINUE TO REPORT TO CCIA/CLTS
Cross Reference MUST REPORT TO DAIRYTRACE DIRECTLY
Replaced MUST REPORT TO DAIRYTRACE DIRECTLY
Move Out CAN CONTINUE TO REPORT TO CCIA/CLTS
Exported/ Temp Exported CAN CONTINUE TO REPORT TO CCIA/CLTS
Sighted CAN CONTINUE TO REPORT TO CCIA/CLTS
Retired CAN CONTINUE TO REPORT TO CCIA/CLTS
Disposed CAN CONTINUE TO REPORT TO CCIA/CLTS

Overview of Requirements for Bison Producers: Livestock Identification and Traceability Program

      • Bison need to be identified with an approved tag before leaving the farm of origin.
      • If you do not have proper equipment to identify your livestock safely, you can move your cattle to an approved tagging site to be identified. You will need to provide the tagging site with the approved tags to apply to your livestock. Find a tagging site near you.
      • If you receive an animal that is not identified with an approved tag, you must apply an approved tag to it. You may only apply approved tags that have issued to your site. You must keep records for a minimum of two years that include the identification number of the new tag and enough information about the animal to be able to trace its origin. Learn how to report a tag replacement event to the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) database.
      • If you need to apply an approved tag to an animal or dead stock that already bears an approved/revoked tag, you must report the number of the new approved tag and the number of the previously approved tag to the CLTS database within 30 days of the new tag being applied. Learn how to report a tag cross-reference event to the CLTS database.
      • If you move dead stock off your site for disposal, the dead stock must be identified with an approved tag and you must report the tag using the retire event in the CLTS database. Learn how to report a tag retire event in the CLTS database.

How to purchase approved animal indicators for bison:
Canadian Bison Identification & Traceability

CCIA Board Member Producer Association – Bison
Canadian Bison Association

Overview of Requirements for Sheep Producers: Livestock Identification and Traceability Program

      • Sheep need to be identified with an approved tag before leaving the farm of origin.
      • If you receive an animal that is not identified with an approved tag, you must apply an approved tag to it. You may only apply approved tags that have issued to your site. You must keep records for a minimum of two years that include the identification number of the new tag and enough information about the animal to be able to trace its origin. Learn how to report a tag replacement event to the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) database.
      • If you need to apply an approved tag to an animal or dead stock that already bears an approved/revoked tag, you must report the number of the new approved tag and the number of the previously approved tag to the CLTS database within 30 days of the new tag being applied. Learn how to report a tag cross-reference event to the CLTS database.
      • If you move dead stock off your site for disposal, the dead stock must be identified with an approved tag and you must report the tag using the retire event in the CLTS database. Learn how to report a tag retire event in the CLTS database.

CCIA Board Member Producer Association – Sheep
Canadian Sheep Federation

To purchase approved animal indicators for sheep, visit their website for authorized distributors across Canada.

Canadian National Goat Federation has selected CCIA to be its Responsible Administrator ahead of proposed livestock traceability regulations that may include goats in the livestock traceability category of ruminants.

CCIA is customizing a goat-species specific section within the web store for goat producers.

At present, goat producers are preparing for the proposed regulations by confirming or acquiring a PID from a provincial/territorial registry and confirming or setting-up a CLTS database account.

How to purchase animal indicators for goats:
- Contact CCIA’s toll-free order desk at 1-877-909-2333 or online at tags.canadaid.ca

CCIA Board Member Producer Association – Goat
Canadian National Goat Federation

Canadian Cervid Alliance has selected CCIA to be its Responsible Administrator ahead of proposed livestock traceability regulations that may include cervid in the livestock traceability category of ruminants.

CCIA is customizing a cervid-species specific section within the web store for cervid producers.

At present, cervid producers are preparing for the proposed regulations by confirming or acquiring a PID from a provincial/territorial registry and confirming or setting-up a CLTS database account.

How to purchase animal indicators for cervid:
- Contact CCIA’s toll-free order desk at 1-877-909-2333 or online at tags@canadaid.ca

CCIA Board Member Producer Association - Cervid
Canadian Cervid Alliance

New regulations and communication will see a shift in language from the use of “Approved Canadian Cattle Identification Agency Radio Frequency Identification Tags” to the use of “Approved Canadian Cattle Identification Agency Animal Indicators” or “Animal Indicators”. This change addresses animal identification devices that have alternative designs that may or may not include radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. SAMPLE USAGE: A livestock operator must apply an approved animal indicator to an animal prior to the animal leaving its farm of origin or the premises where it is located.

View the list of Approved Animal Indicators Approved Animal Indicators
View the list of Revoked Animal Indicators
Learn about best practices for maximizing retention of approved animal indicators
Provide your feedback about approved animal indicators using the Tag/animal Indicator Quality Control Form
Find a tagging site near you
View the list of approved RFID readers
Learn more about the general requirements for livestock identification and traceability from Canadian Food Inspection Agency

CLTS Forms

Learn how to submit reportable events using our full array of CLTS database user instructions, video tutorials and templates.

Complimentary, one-on-one livestock traceability support and services by toll-free telephone at 1-877-909-2333 and email at info@canadaid.ca. Contact the Call Centre Team.

Copyright @ Canadian Cattle Identification Agency