REQUIREMENTS - Animal Identification

The following lists animal identification requirements for different facilities and animal types.

Farm-to-farm movement (within Canada)

Except for sows and boars, pigs moved from one farm to another do not need to be identified. Documented movement information (e.g., a manifest) must accompany the shipment. There is no requirement to report movements within premises (i.e., barn-to-barn movements on the same property).

Pigs going to slaughter

Herd mark 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

(*note: assembly yards do not need to report identification numbers unless they are applied to pigs at their facility).

Culled breeding swine (sows/boars going to slaughter)

An approved tag or herd mark shoulder slap tattoo must be applied to culls before leaving the farm

(*note: assembly yards do not need to report identification numbers unless they are applied to pigs at their facility).

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

An individual identification ear tag 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 herd mark (tag or tattoo) or individual identification ear tag. Check with your export official to verify acceptable export protocol.

Import movements

Imported pigs must have an approved identifier upon arrival into Canada. In most cases this will be an individual identification ear tag, but could include other foreign identifiers if they are approved by the Canadian government.

Pigs sent to fair or other location not specified here

An individual identification ear tag must be applied to a pig destined for auction, fair, artificial insemination centre, or any other destination types not specified on this website (*note: assembly yards do not need to report identification numbers unless they are applied to pigs at their facility).

Pigs at an assembly yard for more than 96 hours

An individual identification ear tag 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 (*note: assembly yards do not need to report identification numbers unless they are applied to pigs at their facility).

Pigs at an assembly yard sent anywhere other than slaughter

An individual identification ear tag must be applied to, or present on, any pig that is shipped fom an assembly yard to anywhere other than an abattoir (*note: assembly yards do not need to report identification numbers unless they are applied to pigs at their facility).

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.

*NOTE*: Documented movement information (e.g. a manifest) must accompany all shipments/movements described above.