Tags for US-Imported Animals

If a registered animal is imported from the US for dairy purposes, the new owner must purchase a national tag from NLID or from ATQ if a resident of Québec.

National Livestock Identification
In the case of NLID, the RFID component bears a new Canadianrecognized number for tracking. The panel is visually inscribed with the letters USA, the originating USA registration number (also serves as Canadian registration number), and herd management number (new, if desired). A sample panel number is USA 137439511. This interim solution accommodates US-registered animals identified/tagged prior to the implementation of the Animal Identification Number (AIN) system in April 2006.

Agri-Traçabilité Québec
ATQ utilizes the US letters on the printed panel, followed by the last nine digits of the US registration number. The RFID tag shows the complete 15-digit sequence starting with 982 048 (reverse of US country code 840), followed by the last nine digits of the original US number. An example is 982 048 999999999.

Opportunity
From a Herdbook perspective, while both the NLID and ATQ tagging processes of USA-imported animals are interim, both retain the original lifetime registration number. From a tracking perspective, there is still the expectation of 1) full compatibility of numbering formats for data exchange purposes on a national basis, and 2) reciprocal recognition of the livestock tags on a North American front. Contact Holstein Canada Operations Manager Linda Markle for further details.