The federal government has announced a $20 million program to buy livestock traceability technology.
The three-year livestock auction traceability initiative helps cover the cost of traceability equipment to identify and track individual animals, agriculture minister Gerry Ritz said in a news release.
Applicants may request up to $100,000.
The government will provide 80 percent of the funding and applicants must pay 20 percent, said Darcy Eddleston, chair of the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency.
Applications are now being accepted for projects beginning April 1.
The money will help auction marts, assembly yards, feedlots, backgrounders, fairs and exhibitions, privately managed community pastures and other high volume, commingling sites upgrade their facilities and buy traceability equipment to help identify and trace individual animals.
Visit www.agr.gc.ca/lati for information on how to apply for the program.
Meanwhile, the cattle identification agency continues to test systems to make sure radio frequency reader technologies can work at auction markets. The final report should be available this spring, said Eddleston.
A two-phase study tested the system’s ability to read ear tags and transfer the information to the agency’s database. Preliminary results showed the system works, but further study may be needed to prove it works consistently under all conditions.
