Traceability - PigTRACE

PigTRACE Ear Tags

PigTRACE Ear Tag Price Increase Effective December 15, 2023

With increased foreign animal disease risk putting traceability at the centre of preparedness and zoning activities, PigTRACE is more important than ever.

CPC incurred increased costs for the manufacture and distribution of PigTRACE ear tags through 2023. Unfortunately, these costs have become unsustainable and must be passed on to customers. CPC applied a 10% pricing increase to PigTRACE ear tags and accessories on December 15, 2023. The new pricing is listed below.

*Order quantities are in multiples of 25 tags. Minimum order of 25 tags.
**Prices include shipping. Applicable taxes are extra.

Approved Ear Tags

Ear tags can be purchased by calling 1-866-300-1825 or provincial pork organizations. Rectangle and trapezoid ear tags are available in white, pink and yellow. Small piglet ear tags and electronic ear tags (FDX-RFID and HDX-RFID) are available in yellow only.

More information on the tags, including photos, is provided further down the page.

Tag Application

It is important to make sure you’re using the correct tag applicator for these tags.  These are Allflex tags, and use the following Allflex tag applicators:

1. Red pliers will work with all forms of tags, including electronic, RFID tags (See Image 1)
2. Orange handled Retrac-o-Matic will work with our large, visual tag only (i.e., will not work with small piglet tags or electronic RFID tags) (See Image 2)

Click here to learn how to properly apply ear tags

More About the Tags

PigTRACE uses two forms of official identification for identifying pigs:

1. Individual identification: a 15-digit number unique to each pig.
2. Herd mark (formally called the slap tattoo number): a 5-character number that is unique to a premises (assigned by your provincial pork organization). This may be applied to pigs as:
   • a shoulder slap tattoo
   • an approved ear tag or
   • ear tattoo (only in the case of exported weanling and feeder pigs).

Additional numbers of your choice can be printed below the official identification number for barn management purposes (e.g., 12345B in the image below).  It is recommended that you review PigTRACE Tag Options prior to ordering, as we do not offer refunds or returns.

Tattooing for Traceability

Step 1:  Material Preparation

• Use permanent ink accredited by CFIA (preferably black)
• Keep your hammer in good condition with clean numbers
• Never clean equipment with alcohol or gas
• Always replace broken or bent numbers

Step 2:  The Tattoo

• Use the number(s) that are officially assigned to the premises where hogs are shipped from (contact your provincial pork organization to obtain official numbers)
• Ensure that the numbers are in the correct order
• Aim for the shoulder
• Dip the hammer in the ink often

Click here to learn how to properly apply a shoulder slap tattoo

Step 3:  Monitoring

• Train and follow up with employees

 

Be sure to report all information to www.PigTRACE.ca

Reporting pig movements to PigTRACE

All premises-to-premises swine movements must be reported to PigTRACE by the site operator or their designate. Movements between barns on the same property (premises) do not need to be reported.  Some types of movements require animal identification.  Full details and procedures can be found on the requirements page of the website.

In Alberta, movements in accordance with the provincial traceability system. Alberta Pork and the Government of Alberta have initiated a provincial swine traceability initiative, which is harmonized with PigTRACE Canada.

Documented movement information (e.g., a manifest) must accompany the shipment. Existing commercial manifests can be used to fulfill this requirement if they contain the necessary information (date/time, source, destination, number of pigs, license plate and animal identifiers).

PigTRACE Canada recommends that you review your document to ensure that all required data is being captured for your own ease in record keeping. The PigTRACE Canada Manifest can be used as a reference document. The necessary information is marked with an asterisk (*).

Requirements

Premises ID

Premises identification is the assignment of a unique identifier to a parcel of land where pigs are located and connects pig movements to geographic locations, Stakeholders can request a premises identification number through your provincial pork organization or by requesting a PigTRACE account.

Pig Identification

PigTRACE uses two forms of pig identification: a unique 15-digit number (i.e., Individual ID as seen in Image 1) or the herdmark, a 5-digit identifier unique to each farm premises.

Three methods of identification can be used, depending on the type pig and movement: ear tag, ear tattoo, or shoulder-slap tattoos. In some cases, pig identification is not required (e.g., farm-to-farm movements of non-breeding pigs).

Farm-to-farm movement (within Canada)

Except for sows and boars, pigs moved from one farm to another do not need to be identified.

Pigs going to slaughter

A herdmark shoulder slap tattoo or an approved ear tag must be applied to pigs going to a Canadian slaughter facility, either directly or via an assembly yard.

Culled breeding swine (sows/boars going to slaughter)

An approved ear tag or herdmark shoulder slap tattoo must be applied to culls before leaving the farm.

Bred Pigs (sows/boars sent anywhere other than slaughter)

An individual identification ear tag (15-digit number) must be applied to a pig used for breeding when leaving the site where they were bred (*Gilts do not need to be identified). Bred pigs are defined as pigs who have mated, either naturally or artificially, or which provided semen, ova, or embryos for reproduction.

Export movements

Exported pigs must bear an approved identifier upon departure from Canada. This could include a herdmark ear tag or tattoo, or an individual identification ear tag (15-digit number).

Import movements

Imported pigs must have an approved identifier upon arrival into Canada. In most cases this will be an individual identification ear tag (15-digit number). For pet pigs this could be an electronic implant.

Pigs sent to fair or other location not specified here

An individual identification ear tag (15-digit number) must be applied to a pig destined for auction, fair, artificial insemination centre, or any other destination types not specified on this website.

Pigs at an assembly yard for more than 96 hours

An individual identification ear tag (15-digit number) must be applied to, or present on, any pig that remains at an assembly yard (site used for the purpose of collecting pigs) longer than ninety-six (96) hours.

Deadstock removal

Deadstock do not need to be identified when shipped for disposal.

Lost Tags & Illegal Tag Application

If a pig loses an approved tag during transportation, the person who owns or has the possession, care or control of the animal shall apply a new approved tag to it at its destination, unless the pig is sent to an abattoir for slaughter. It is illegal to identify pigs with tags approved for other species, and vice-versa.

Movement reporting

The following list provides a summary of the information that must be reported for pig movements.  Detailed information can be found in the PigTrace Program Guide. A summary of the requirements is also displayed on the PigTrace Barn Poster.

Reporting Period

When moving live pigs, deadstock or parts of deadstock, movement information must be reported within 7 days of departure and arrival by both the sender and the receiver.

Pigs sent to another site, not for slaughter

The following movement information must be reported by the sender and the receiver:

1. Departure and destination site
2. Date and time of departure/arrival
3. Number of pigs sent/received
4. License plate number or conveyance identification
5. Approved pig identifiers (*not required for farm-to-farm movements of anything other than sows and boars)

Pigs sent for slaughter

The following movement information must be reported by the sender and the receiver:

1. Departure and destination site
2. Date and time of departure/arrival
3. Number of pigs sent/received
4. License plate number or conveyance identification
5. Approved pig identifiers (approved tags and/or shoulder slap tattoos)

* Assembly yards do not need to report identification numbers

Deadstock

When moving deadstock or parts of deadstock from any site to another site, the following movement information must be reported by the sender and receiver:

1. Departure site
2. The location or name of the operator of the destination site
3. Date of departure

The receiver must also report:

• License plate number or conveyance identification

PigTRACE for Small-Scale Pig Producers

This information is intended to provide a quick summary of the main program elements of PigTRACE, an industry-led, pig traceability initiative designed to ensure protection, prosperity, and peace of mind in responding to animal health and food safety emergencies. The program is mandated by federal law, and came into effect on July 1, 2014 by an amendment to the federal Health of Animals Regulations.

All pig owners must register an account with PigTRACE.

1) Report all incoming and outgoing pig movements to PigTRACE within 7 days (after movement)

Online

Login here from a computer or mobile device

Fax

1-877-301-6710 (manifest sheets are available, but any format may be used)

Phone

1-866-300-1825

2) Animal identification required for certain types of movements:

Weaners and feeder pigs going from one farm to another farm

Weaners and feeder pigs going from one farm to another farm do not require animal identification; however, pigs used in breeding (sows and boars) require the 15-digit PigTRACE Individual ID ear tag.

Pigs going to slaughter

Pigs going to slaughter must have either a:

• 5-digit herd mark number applied to the pig’s shoulder or back using commercial tattooing equipment OR non-toxic livestock spray paint and homemade stencil(*check with abattoir),
• 5-digit PigTRACE Herd Mark ear tag, or
• 15-digit PigTRACE Individual ID ear tag (large or small tag)

When the 15-digit PigTRACE Individual ID ear tag must be used

The 15-digit PigTRACE Individual ID ear tag must be used (i.e., is the only option) when:

• Pigs are imported
• Pigs go to fair, exhibition or auction
• Sows or boars move from one farm to another farm
• Pigs being exported must have a PigTRACE ear tag or a Herd Mark ear tattoo (feeder pigs only)

Identification

The program provides two options for pig identification:

• The herd mark is a 5-digit number assigned to a farm. It can only be used for movements to slaughter or export, as it must identify the last farm of residence before slaughter or export.
• The individual ID is a unique 15-digit number that is specific to every pig. This can be used to identify pigs going anywhere.

For more information about tags, purchasing tags and tattoos, please see the PigTRACE Ear Tags and Tattooing for Traceability sections of this page.

Other Helpful Information

Sow farms that sell piglets to customers

Sow farms that sell piglets to customers for further growing can voluntarily apply the 15-digit individual ID tags (small piglet tag) to the pigs before shipping/selling them to customers. Customers would then have pig identification for eventual slaughter.

Be sure to report the tag numbers involved in these movements so they are no longer associated with the originating sow farm. PigTRACE offers tag orders through its inventories at most provincial pork offices.

Movements to/from unknown unregistered locations

If you are reporting movements to the PigTRACE database (by computer or mobile browser at www.PigTRACE.ca), you must enter a valid Premises ID Number for the locations.

You can contact PigTRACE staff or your provincial pork organizations at any time to ask if a PID exists for the location you are shipping to / receiving from (e-mail PigTRACEvm@cpc-ccp.com or call 1-866-300-1825 with any requests for assistance).

If your supplier is not registered with PigTRACE, you can enter the other location with the province code followed by “unknown” (e.g., ONunknown, BCunknown, etc). Additional fields will automatically be displayed to enter information about the location (e.g., contact name, address, e-mail, phone number).