August 3, 2006

Canadian cattle groups to develop identification system for all species

Canadian animal husbandry groups are coming together to support a multi-species, industry-maintained National Data Repository.

Canada's various animal husbandry groups such as The Canadian Livestock Identification Agency, National Livestock Identification for Dairy and The Canadian Bison Association came together last week to discuss a project that may see Canada's present database for cattle identification expanded for broader industry involvement. 

Canada's current database is run by the government's Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA).

It is the long-term goal of these groups to have the new structure act as the Industry owned and run National Data Repository for Traceability in Canada.

Mabel Hamilton, CCIA Board Chair, said the meeting was very positive as all groups were committed to having a structure that supports the governments' animal health management strategies and the traceability needs of the individual commodities. 

Hamilton said that the industry must work together to ensure that all species can participate in the process and that there is a plan in place that would ensure the long term viability of the new structure.

As the need for traceability increases in the livestock industry, having an integrated system would allow each industry to achieve their traceability goals by building upon existing systems instead of developing new ones from scratch, Hamilton said.