LETHBRIDGE – The first phase of Alberta’s hog traceability system is expected to be relatively hassle free because of its use of the province’s livestock transport manifest program.
Ron Axelson, who was hired to develop the system, says using transport manifests means the paperwork will be no different from what most producers are using now.
“The system cannot intrude into the regular course of business of pork production,” he told an Alberta Pork producer meeting in Lethbridge Nov. 12.
The use of manifests also means the system will not cost producers money because they are required by law when hogs are transported.
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The forms will be filled out by the producer, transporter and buyer, which is usually a packer.
They must include the premise identification number, farm name, producer number and name registered with Alberta Pork, packer name, number shipped, list of tattoo numbers and drug residue information, which is already required under the Canadian quality assured pork program.
There are four approved manifests for shipping swine to slaughter from Sunterra Meats, Maple Leaf Foods, Alberta Pork and Western Hog Exchange, which is used by Olymel and Sturgeon Valley Pork.
The Alberta Pork manifest is used for hogs shipped to a provincial plant. The first phase of the program starts Jan. 4 and full movement tracking is expected to start in 2012.
Livestock Identification Services is managing the database, and an information sharing agreement is in place with government to ensure producer information remains confidential.
The program will not be promoted for exports unless requested by international customers.
Its main use will be for tracking animals in the case of contagious disease, but in the future it could be streamlined into a value-added program for those who are interested.
