Traceability programs receive funding

The Alberta government has announced two new traceability programs to cover the cost of tagging lambs and cervids. The sheep industry will receive $900,000 over two years while payment programs for cervids, which includes elk and deer, total $90,000 over three years. About 1,900 sheep farms and 344 cervid operations are involved. Funding for both programs will come from the province’s $15 million age verification incentive program.Sheep producers are moving to radio frequency ear tags from a pink curl lock tag. The electronic tags cost between $1.80 and $3. Once the lambs are tagged, producers can apply for refunds. This program does not cover readers or software packages used in the sheep traceability programs in the province. “We would like to get money for equipment,” said Phil Kolodychuk, chair of Alberta Lamb Producers. “We are happy Alberta Agriculture is investing in our industry,” he said. Elk producers have registered their animals with Alberta Agriculture for the last 15 years using a double plastic tag system with unique numbers recording history from birth to death, said Alberta Elk Commission chair Glenda Elkow. Antlers are also identified at the time of harvest. The grant helps producers with the cost of tagging. A set of tags is about $7.

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