Animal Welfare Standards
Animal Health Monitoring

Animal Health

There is nothing more important for the production of high-quality beef than healthy cattle. Canada’s National Code of Practice for the care and handling of cattle has been developed collaboratively by industry organizations, government and experts working in animal health and welfare.

Canada’s National Animal Health Program

Demonstrated Leadership in Animal Health

The health of Canada’s breeding herd is protected by strictcontrols on importation of livestock genetics. The Terrestrial Animal Health Division of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) determines if importation of animals, embryos or semen will be permitted based on a detailed risk assessment, including a review of the exporting country’s animal health status. Canada maintains programs for point of-entry inspection and quarantine as well as foreign animal disease (FAD) testing at the National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease.

Animal Disease Surveillance

The CFIA Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit works to detect potentially emerging animal diseases and monitor the effectiveness of control programs. Through the formation of a nationwide network, the disease detection capabilities of Canada’s veterinarians, provincial and university diagnostic laboratories and the federal government are combined. If disease is detected, the ability to rapidly and accurately identify the herd of origin of affected animals is supported by the Canadian Livestock Tracking System. Canada communicates the results of its surveillance for reportable diseases to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). The exchange of information is an important part of Canada’s commitment to work with other nations to establish the best approaches to protecting both animal and human health.

Approval and Usage of Veterinary Medications

Under the Canadian Food and Drug Regulations, all veterinary drugs must be authorized by Health Canada prior to their use in the cattle industry. These veterinary drugs are an important tool in the production of healthy animals which are destined for use as food. Acceptable limits of residues of animal health products in beef are called maximum residue limits (MRLs). Canada develops its MRL standards by reviewing the best available scientific information and contributes to international MRL standards as a member of the Codex Alimentarius Commission of the United Nations.

National Chemical Residue Monitoring Program

Canada’s National Chemical Residue Monitoring Program (NCRMP) tests samples of beef fat, muscle tissue and internal organs for chemical residues. Testing is performed for veterinary drugs as well as other agricultural and industrial chemicals. Any finding of chemical residues is evaluated to determine if there is a violation of Canadian MRLs which are enforced under the Canadian Food and Drugs Act. In the very rare event that a violation is found, an investigation is conducted, and further compliance testing is performed.

Animal health and welfare standards serve as a fundamental pillar that supports the entire Canadian beef supply chain. Raising healthy cattle allows us to produce healthful, safe food.

Dr. Leigh Rosengren Chief Veterinary Officer, Canadian Cattle Association

Cattle Identification

Canada’s mandatory national cattle identification program is the first of its type in North America and is designed to support efficient trace back and containment of serious animal health or food safety concerns

The Canadian Livestock Tracking System

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Canadian Cattle Identification Agency

The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) is a non-profit, industry-led organization incorporated in 1998 and is dedicated to the implementation of technologies and services supporting Canada’s national cattle identification program. The agency is led by a board of directors made up of representatives from all sectors of the Canadian industry, including cow/calf operations, feedlots, auction markets, processing plants and veterinarians. Due to strong industry and government support for its activities, the CCIA has become a global leader in animal identification.

Animal Identification

Unlike older bar code systems, the radio frequency identification (RFID) tag does not require “line of sight” to facilitate tag reading. Use of passive RFID technology enables the tag to store the animals’ unique identification number without the need for batteries, ensuring the information is available for the life of the animal.

Supporting Disease Eradication

Canada maintains a strong commitment to the control and elimination of serious animal diseases through its National Animal Health Program. This program, administered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), requires ongoing surveillance for disease. Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) is vital to trace backs conducted to investigate reportable diseases and other conditions.

Canadian Cattle Identification Agency

How Does the System Work?

  1. An approved CCIA RFID tag must be applied tothe animal’s ear prior to leaving its herd of origin.
  2. All RFID tags are visually and electronically embedded with a unique identification number that is allocated from the national database.
  3. The national RFID tag distribution network securely reports all tag issuance records directly to the CLTS database.
  4. The unique number of each individual animal is maintained to the point of export or carcass inspection for traceability purposes. The CLTS database maintains all historical records of unique animal identification data.

Only approved CCIA RFID tags may be utilized in the Canadian Livestock Tracking System.
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The RFID transponder does not require batteries and can function in extreme cold or hot temperatures.
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The RFID transponder does not require batteries and can function in extreme cold or hot temperatures.

Canadian Cattle Identification Agency
Canadian Livestock Tracking System

RFID Tags

Each RFID tag has a unique number assigned by the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA). Only approved CCIA RFID tags may be used.

Cow-Calf

Each animal must have a CCIA RFID ear tag when leaving the original herd. The CCIA and the Government of Canada recommend that birth dates are registered with the Age Verification System.

Auction

Cattle can’t be sold at an auction without a CCIA RFID ear tag. The tag number and the date of processing for export must be reported to the CLTS database.

Feedlot

Upon arrival at the feedlot, cattle are checked to ensure the presence of a CCIA RFID ear tag. The unique tag number can be used to track production information and report animal movement events.

Meat Processing

Packers are required to record and report numbers from tags on the cattle they receive to the CLTS database. ID numbers from harvested cattle are then retired in the CLTS database.

Audit and Enforcement

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is the government agency which is responsible for auditing and enforcing the Canadian National Cattle Identification Program.

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