RED DEER — All premises with livestock require an identification number, whether there are a few chickens or a large herd of horses on a farm or acreage.
The number links livestock and poultry properties to a land description or premise so that owners may be informed immediately in case of disease outbreaks and emergencies, such as a fire or flood.
“Some people may not realize it applies to them,” said Lorraine Lynch of Alberta Agriculture.
The government also wants the information kept up to date with new phone numbers or changes in the number of animals on a site, particularly during an emergency when owners need to be informed and livestock moved.
Read Also
Hogs’ transport stress called costly
Poor trailer design and transportation stress are killing pigs and costing the pork industry millions of dollars in penalties, meat quality downgrades and failed welfare audits, according to research by a federal scientist.
“In an emergency response, if you only had 50 head of cattle registered and now you have 500, we have a problem,” she said.
The number of animals is also helpful during a disease outbreak if the government must order vaccinations.
Adrienne Haerron of Alberta Agriculture told a horse breeders conference in Red Deer Jan. 10 that horses, mules and donkeys are considered livestock in Canada, so those premises need to be registered.
“Even if you only own one horse, you still need to have a PID,” she said.
Premise identification has been a requirement in the province since 2009 under the Alberta Animal Health Act. Registration is free.
Haerron said government officials discovered during a recent equine herpes outbreak that many people did not have PIDs . As a result, contacting horse owners was challenging.
A number is not required if a horse lives permanently at a boarding facility, but the owner should have access to that information from the stable owner in case of emergency.
The number is also required when a horse is changing ownership, such as when it is taken to an abattoir or auction.
New regulations that came into effect last July don’t allow medications to be sold at farm stores without the number. Other regulations apply if medications are bought from a veterinarian.
For more information, call the Alberta Ag-Info Centre at 310 –FARM (3276) or visit www.agriculture.alberta.ca/premises.
barbara.duckworth@producer.com
