The federal government has announced a $20 million program to buy livestock traceability technology.
The livestock auction traceability initiative over three years helps cover the cost of traceability equipment to identify and track individual animals, said federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz in a news release. Applicants may request up to $100,000.
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. It covers auction marts, assembly yards, feedlots, backgrounders, fairs and exhibitions, privately managed community pastures and other high volume, commingling sites to upgrade facilities and purchase traceability equipment to help in the identification and tracing of individual animals.
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For information on how to apply for the program, visit www.agr.gc.ca/lati.
Meanwhile, the cattle identification agency continues to test systems to make sure radio frequency reader technologies can work at auction markets across the country. The final report should be available this spring said Eddleston.
A two phase study tested the ability of the system to read individual cattle ear ags and transfer the information from the auction market back to the agency database.
So far, the studies showed the system works but technical results varied from day to day.
Some technical interference problems were encountered at auction markets and further study may be needed to get the best transmission. Some auction markets may have to make some structural changes with alleys to make sure the readers work better.
