While national tagging of dairy animals has progressed exceptionally well in Canada, 11 issues need attention.

Dual/Security National Tag Sets

1. Female and male calves to be registered must have approved dairy tag sets (white) placed in both ears within 24 hours of birth. If a bull calf is leaving the farm for veal, etc. a single CCIA RFID button (yellow) from the local supply store is an acceptable alternative.

2. The RFID button and the panels with protruding black caps always go to the front; the black cap fits nicely into the curl of the ear to minimize snagging. Tags must not be reversed as this contravenes Health of Animals legislation and impacts retention, appearance, and may even cause infection.

3. A tag pair in one ear does not satisfy dairy standards and Association By-laws. One tag pair must appear in both ears at all times. While sketches and photos are desirable, they are viewed as secondary or backup, not as primary attached identification for life.

4. Care should be taken to insert tag sets correctly the first time; cattle remember bad experiences, e.g. vein is punctured. For long-term retention, place tags between the two veins, closer than mid-point to the head, in the thicker part of the ear.

5. National tags (NLID and CCIA) with bar codes issued prior to January 2004 are grandfathered and are equivalent to RFID tags. Therefore, animals can move off farm with RFID or bar-coded tags.

Replacement Tags

6. Replacement tags should be ordered immediately after loss is noticed. This ensures uninterrupted animal identification and facilitates verification by service staff, e.g. type classification, milk recording, AI, Canadian Quality Milk.

7. NLID and ATQ replacement tags should be used as they carry original lifetime numbers. Single beef tags, as replacements, introduce another official number that requires cross-referencing in herd records and the national system.

NLID tags are replaced free as part of the program (animals originating in all provinces except Québec). Québec producers must contact ATQ to acquire replacement ATQ tags. For animals originating in Québec and now resident in another province, producers may contact NLID to buy replacement tags. These would carry the animal’s original lifetime number and a (new, if desired) herd management number.

NLID toll free: 1-877-771-6543

ATQ toll free: 1-866-270-4319

8. Primary national tags (RFID, or bar-coded) must never be removed from the ear for any reason, according to national legislation. This includes a single CCIA RFID button tag.

9. The NLID security panel tag (with , but no RFID or bar code) may be replaced on a new herd entry with a replacement security tag. This avoids complication if the management number is the same as an animal already resident on the farm. Security tags must not be removed until the security replacement tags (ordered with original lifetime number) are received, validated, and ready to insert in the animal’s ear.

10. Because the original hole is usually enlarged, a new tagging location should be selected for replacement tags.

11. If a registered animal is imported from the US for dairy purposes carrying a state metal tag, the new owner must purchase a national tag from NLID or ATQ. This bears the animal’s US registration number and a (new, if desired) herd management number.