Ontario market hog producers will receive new tattoo numbers

ONTARIO - The Canadian Pork Council and provincial pork organizations have been working towards a National Hog Identification and Traceability (ID&T) system that will raise the hog industry's preparedness in a crisis situation.
calendar icon 6 September 2006
clock icon 3 minute read
Information provided courtesy Ontario Pork Ontario Pork Logo

September 2006 Newsletter

Vision 2010: Ontario Pork’s Process of Strategic Planning and Review
Diploma in Ag Communications Launched
Conference Explores Niche Markets
Ontario Hog Market-Weight Range Increases
Animal Care Program Comes to Ontario

Beginning this fall, Ontario Pork will be implementing a national tattooing and premises identification program to assist with tracking swine movement between birth and processing.

All premises on which farmed livestock are kept, assembled or disposed of will be registered as part of a mandatory national premise identification plan, and will receive a unique premises identification number. A single premises will have one identification number regardless of livestock types on the property.

What is a Premises?

A premises is a parcel of land defined by a legal land description which allows for an accurate record of the location. In the event of a crisis, the Health of Animals Act states that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will access this system to manage and coordinate their emergency plan.

A national premises registry may have information on the property ownership and the type of livestock species on the property. Ontario Pork is aware of the personal nature of this information and privacy issues will be strictly monitored.

What Does This Mean for Ontario Hog Producers?

Premise information was gathered for Ontario hog farms with collection of Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates in 2003. Ontario Pork is working to keep this information updated. Producers who have purchased, sold or changed an operation are asked to notify Ontario Pork.

Current tattoos that are linked to the producer number will be eliminated. A national five-character shoulder-slap tattoo numbering classification will be adopted for all market hogs before being shipped for slaughter. Individual premises will be assigned one or more specific tattoo numbers that are unique within Canada.

How are the New Tattoos being Distributed?

Ontario Pork will be responsible for issuing, allocating and managing all tattoo numbers for Ontario, with the last number of each tattoo representing the province. The first four digits will be unique to each premise within the province. Ontario Pork will be contacting producers directly with further information about tattoo numbers this fall.

Beginning in November, producers will be individually contacted by Ontario Pork to confirm that our records are accurate for premises registration and to allocate new tattoo numbers.

Who do I Contact for More Information?

For more information about the National Hog Identification and Traceability System, please contact Tim Metzger, Ontario Pork Project Deployment Manager, at 1-877-668-7675 or visit www.ontariopork.on.ca.

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