RED DEER – A national sheep identification program comes into effect Jan. 1, 2004.
All sheep and lambs leaving the farm must have a hot pink, metal curl lock tag. Tags are available on the Prairies only through the Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers.
The tags cost 31 cents each, but the Alberta Sheep and Wool Commission will include a $1 service charge on the tags. Check-off money is supposed to be collected when the wool or animal is sold, but it was determined that some people did not collect it or remit the money.
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Canadian Food Inspection Agency regulations for sheep are similar to those of the cattle identification program.
“Throughout the development of this program, we had the cattle as a template,” said Laurence Read, in an interview during the Alberta Sheep Symposium Nov. 15.
“There is opposition but I don’t think we have a choice,” said Read, who is vice-chair of the sheep and wool commission.
The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency will maintain the database and has assigned a series of nine digit numbers for sheep starting at 310,000,000. Each animal receives a number and the information is to be used only in the case of a serious animal health disease outbreak or food safety crisis.
Every sheep must be identified with an official tag before leaving its herd of origin or mingling with the sheep of other owners. The producer of the herd of origin is responsible for buying the official tag, applying it to the animal and maintaining records.
The producer must list breeding sheep arriving at the farm or sheep 18 months of age or older leaving the farm, other than those being shipped to a federally or provincially registered abattoir for immediate slaughter.
It will be illegal to transport animals without tags.
Tags may not be reused. If an animal dies on the farm, the tag must be removed, retained and the number recorded. Cause of death should be noted. No tagging stations at auctions are available. There will be a $500 fine for non-compliance.
