The sheep industry will soon be getting its own national identification program, but producer questions remain.
“There are some who were vehemently against it, just like the cattle industry,” said Tony Stoltz of the Alberta Sheep and Wool Commission.
The program was approved by Alberta sheep commission members at fall zone meetings. Similar approval was also achieved in Ontario and Quebec.
“Many could see the writing on the wall and accepted it is a necessary part of doing business,” Stoltz said.
While nothing has been formally approved, provincial delegates to the Canadian Sheep Federation meeting in December agreed that each sheep must wear an ear tag. The tags will carry a provincial code, flock of origin number and may include a management number. Any size and make of tag is acceptable.
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A single and aligned check-off collection system based on where producers live makes the system equal said Chad Ross, Saskatchewan Cattle Association chair.
A group of producers in northern British Columbia are concerned about the cost of tags for large flocks and the problems with tag retention, since sheep graze through rougher pastures and bush, said Chris Carrigan, president of the Dawson Creek Sheep Breeders Association.
While many accept the need for traceback for health purposes and food safety, primary producers do not want to carry the full responsibility when problems are found in a feedlot or slaughter house.
“People are concerned about being blamed for something that is not their fault,” Carrigan said.
National identification programs, which are sprouting up around the world, are prompted by outbreaks of diseases like bovine spongiform encephalopathy, classical swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease and avian influenza.
In Canada, it is estimated less than 15 percent of the national flock is identified. These are mostly registered purebred animals enrolled in various performance programs across the country.
In recent years, Canada has destroyed more than 12,000 sheep in scrapie-infected flocks in Eastern Canada. It has been estimated less than 1,000 would have been killed if a traceback program was in place.
As of Jan. 1, 2001, flocks in the United Kingdom are part of a mandatory identification program. Sheep are identified by ear tags carrying flock and farm numbers.
A mandatory identification program already exists for Canadian dairy cattle and a national identification system started for beef cattle on Jan. 1. The Quebec government implemented mandatory identification for milk-fed veal in 1996 and the feedlot sector in 1997.
