More than two million cattle have been age verified in Canada and the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency hopes premium prices will encourage more producers get on board and register their animals.
“We’re trying to make it as easy as possible but we don’t want to force producers to buy the tags, the computer and do all the work without getting a premium for their work,” said agency spokesperson Megan Gauley.
Most of the entries have been for calves born since 2004, although older animals have appeared in the system.
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“People can age verify up to 10 years back so there are some that are obviously some older animals,” Gauley said.
The agency wants this aspect of animal identification to remain voluntary so participants can capture a bonus in the market, but the Alberta government has said it wants the program mandatory for slaughter cattle by April 2007.
More cattle appearing on the electronic auction market system TEAM, carry proof of age and producers are paid more, said Jason Danard of the Calgary Stockyards.
“There has to be financial incentive for the producers,” he said. “It is already paying a premium and I believe it is going to get better.”
Those who do not have computers may register their cattle at auctions, veterinary clinics or other public facilities with internet connections. While there were early complaints about the procedure, Danard said on-line registrations have become easier.
“There is extra work to do it but it should pay later and it will help the industry move forward,” he said.
Herb Groenenboom, chair of the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association, said having proof of age should give Canada an advantage in international markets where complete traceback and birth certificates are in demand.
He has bought age verified calves for his finishing lot near Kipp, Alta., but so far the market has not offered many. He paid a slight premium and he knows some feedlots are actively looking for what is proving to be a limited supply.
“If you can bring in a significant lot at the time, it is easier to segregate them as age verified cattle,” he said.
“Getting as many of these things for our industry is positive, especially for export markets. It is one of those things we have to work through.”
Lotte Elsgaard of the Canada Beef Export Federation said beef exports to Japan are lagging because there are not enough market ready cattle with proof of age.
The federation hopes for a surge in exports this spring when more cattle become available.
“That has been the only thing that has affected our exports to Japan,” she said.
Japan demands that beef imports must be derived from cattle less than 20 months of age. With the shortage of birth certificates, only 55 tonnes have been exported since the border opened last December.
“There is no restriction on volume but a shortage of age verified cattle,” Elsgaard said.
Before BSE halted exports of Canadian beef and cattle, Japan received 23, 971 tonnes of Canadian beef in 2002. The federation wants to see that increased to 34,000 tonnes in 2007, providing enough cattle are age verified.
The need for verification was emphasized at the recent World Meat Congress in Australia where delegates said traceback on retail beef is a “nonnegotiable foundation” to maintain public trust in all meat.
