Sun Sets on Bar-coded Tag Status

Commencing January 1, 2010, as required by Health of Animals Regulations, all animals in all provinces (beef and dairy) must be identified with approved RFID tags. This reminder is of particular significance for animals moving off-farm and/or commingling-mixing animals of different origins.

The RFID tag may be ordered from NLID with the same lifetime and management number [as bar-coded tag] for $3.95. If a panel is desired, the radio XL panel is available for $5.25 (radio button fused into panel).

CLIA

Canada will soon be the envy of the world as it moves closer to a multi-species livestock identification and traceability system. The Canadian Livestock Identification Agency is in the process of hiring a General Manager and setting up an office.

Canadian Animal Health Emergency Management

The Board of Directors unanimously endorsed the efforts of the Canadian Animal Health Emergency Management as presented by Executive Director Matt Taylor, at its July meeting. Currently, Canada does not have a national animal health emergency strategy, and the federal government, to date, does not support emergency management of diseases, despite BSE and Avian Flu.

Animal Health: an All-Species Objective

In 1978, scientists predicted new diseases would emerge every 10-15 years. Ten years later, that was revised to 8-9 years. Today, the estimation is 14-16 months. Interestingly, SARS, West Nile Virus, Avian Flu, BSE, and chronic wasting disease were not on the radar screen in Canada 15 years ago.