February 11, 2010

Canadian swine tracking system to provide better benefits

According to the Canadian Pork Council (CPC), a national swine traceability system will provide management benefits beyond tracking the movement of pigs.

CPC is coordinating the creation of the swine component of a national multi-species livestock traceability system.

CPC manager of national traceability Jeff Clark explains "Pig Trace" will include four main components: premise identification which is identifying the location where animals are raised housed or disposed of, market tattoos and slaughter movement reporting which go hand in hand, individual ID of breeding animals which involves ear tags and movement reporting which ties the system together.

Clark said traceability is about crisis management related to foreign animal disease and food safety but the system will provide multi use tools that will assist producers with their own production as well.