Transporting and containing livestock

If you raise pigs, including wild boars, and expect to move them around, you must:

• participate in one of the following Government of Canada:
  • PigTRACE; or
  • PigTRACE for Small-Scale Pig Producers.
• get a Premises Identification Number.

Reporting pig movement

If you move a pig onto or off your farm, you need to report it to PigTRACE within 7 days. You are required to provide the following information:

• departure and destination site Premises Identification Number;
• date and time of departure and arrival;
• number of pigs sent and received;
• licence plate number or conveyance identification; and
• pig identification numbers (when necessary).

You don't need to report when you move pigs from one place to another on the same property.

Identifying tags or marks

Pigs must be identified with an ear tag or a herd mark tattoo before leaving the farm.

An ear tag is required for breeding boars or sows moving farm to farm. Weaners and feeder pigs do not require individual identification when moving from farm to farm.

For any inspected slaughter, you must provide a herd mark number for the lot of pigs or an individual identification number for each pig.  Pigs without herd marks or identification numbers will not be approved for inspection.

Pigs for slaughter, breeding sows or boars do not need individual identification if they do not leave their farm of origin. In this case, you must still register animals in PigTRACE and provide the identification or herd mark number upon slaughter.

Special containment for wild boar

The raising of Eurasian pigs, also known as wild boars, has become a concern due to their:

• potential to escape;
• population growth after escape; and
• increasing conflicts in other parts of Canada.

To address this risk, we have partnered with the Yukon Hog Producers Association  to develop special containment guidelines to securely keep Eurasian pigs on your farm.

• You must build specific containment facilities when farming Eurasian pigs.
• You must maintain the containment in proper working condition at all times.
• Any pens you build must have a separate internal containment or handling area.

Download our fencing guidelines for Eurasian pigs.

To raise cattle, including bison, you must:

• participate in the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency program; and
• get a Premises Identification Number.

Beef

You must identify all cattle with an approved indicator tag before moving them from their place of origin. If you receive an animal that is not identified with an approved tag, you must apply an approved tag to it.

All cattle arriving at an abattoir must have an approved indicator tag. Any animal arriving at an abattoir without a tag will be refused. The Canadian Livestock Tracking System database tracks the slaughter of cattle. The abattoir operator reports all slaughters within 30 days.

Animals that never leave the farm of origin do not have be marked with an approved ear tag. In this case, they still need to be registered in the Canadian Livestock Tracking System database. You also need to provide the identification number upon slaughter.

Movement reporting

You must report movement of cattle to the Canadian Livestock Tracking System database.

Purchase indicator tags

You can get approved Canadian Cattle Identification Agency animal indicators for beef cattle through:

• authorized retailers across Canada;
• the agency's toll-free order desk at 1-877-909-2333; or
• online.

The national distribution network reports the issuance of tags to the tracking database.

Visit the Canadian Bison Association for additional information about bison movement.

To raise sheep, you must:

• participate in the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency program;
• follow the government's control order 2018-001 (effective January 1, 2020); and
• get a Premises Identification Number.

All sheep need to be identified with an approved tag before leaving the farm of origin. You cannot transport sheep that do not have an approved animal indicator tag. If you receive an animal that is not identified with an approved tag, you must put an approved tag on it.

All sheep arriving at an abattoir must have an approved indicator tag. Any animal arriving at an abattoir without a tag may be refused.

Purchase indicator tags

Visit the Canadian Sheep Federation to find authorized distributors across Canada.

Sheep and goat control order

To protect wild thinhorn sheep and mountain goats from pathogens that can be carried by domestic sheep or goats, your sheep must:

• be kept in an enclosure approved by an inspector;
• have permanent identification, e.g., ear tag, microchip;
• be negative when tested for the pathogens of concern; and
• be kept below 1,000 meters elevation.

In addition, you must:

• keep records for every individual sheep and goat;
• report the escape of any sheep or goats from their enclosure, or while being transported; and
• apply for and obtain a permit to import sheep or goats into Yukon.

Learn more about the sheep and goat control order in this fact sheet.

 

You can voluntarily participate in the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency program. This program is expected to become mandatory at the end of 2019.

On January 1, 2020, you must:

• follow the government's control order 2018-001; and
• get a Premises Identification Number.

At present, there are no federal traceability regulations specific to goats. When the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency program comes into effect, you will be required to identify goats before leaving the farm of origin. This is similar to the current requirements for sheep.

Goat producers should prepare by:

• ensuring they have a valid Premises Identification Number for their farm; and
• setting up a Canadian Livestock Tracking System database account.

Sheep and goat control order

To protect wild thinhorn sheep and mountain goats from pathogens that can be carried by domestic sheep or goats, your sheep must:

• be kept in an enclosure approved by an inspector;
• have permanent identification, e.g., ear tag, microchip;
• be negative when tested for the pathogens of concern; and
• be kept below 1,000 meters elevation.

In addition, you must:

• keep records for every individual sheep and goat;
• report the escape of any sheep or goats from their enclosure, or while being transported; and
• apply for and obtain a permit to import sheep or goats into Yukon.

Learn more about the sheep and goat control order in this fact sheet.