AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD CANADA ANNOUNCES $1.7 MILLION FOR LIVESTOCK TRACKING AND TRACING

Ottawa, Ontario, October 11, 2005 – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Andy Mitchell today announced $1.7 million in funding to support livestock tracking and tracing in Canada.

The funding will go to the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA), a not-for-profit, industry-led organization incorporated to establish a national cattle, bison and sheep identification program.

“This $1.7 million will help the CCIA build on what it has already achieved in putting an effective tracking and tracing system in place for Canadian cattle,” said Minister Mitchell. “This is about protecting animal health, safeguarding market access, and making Canadian livestock products more marketable internationally.”

Enhancements will be made to the CCIA’s database that houses information such as farm of origin and date of birth of animals like cattle, sheep and bison. In Canada, all cattle require CCIA approved ear tags containing a unique identification number allocated from this national database. The number allows for the trace back to the farm of origin as well as the voluntary age verification of animals.

CCIA Board Chair Mabel Hamilton added, “This funding will be used to continue to meet the ever increasing need for effective and efficient trace back for the health of the Canadian cattle herd.”

The funding is part of a $488 million investment, announced in 2004, to reposition the livestock industry. The Repositioning the Livestock Industry Strategy was developed in close consultation with the provinces, territories and industry and is intended to ensure long-term viability for the livestock industry in Canada.

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(Authored and distributed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)