Bovine

The official identifiers for the bovine sector (calf, butcher beef, dairy cow) are equipped with an RFID-type electronic tag plus a visual tag recognized by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The identifiers meet international ISO standards and bear a unique 15-digit number that stays with the animal for its entire life. This unique number that begins with 124 000 (designating its provenance from a premises in Canada) ends with a series of nine digits assigned by ATQ, which will be printed on the visual tag and recorded in the electronic chip.

ULTRAFLEX

Since March 2011, Ultraflex is the new bovine identifier that has characteristics that ensure a better rate of retention.

The composition of the plastic has been changed, which increases the identifier's durability, in addition to offering better resistance to temperature spreads (summer/winter).
The rounded form of the rear part mates better with the shape of the ear and reduces the space between the ear and the identifier. There are, therefore, fewer risks of catching on tag traps (chains, feeder pipers, baling cord, etc.) and, as a result, less risk of ripping ears or breaking identifiers.

Double Identification

Québec regulations require double identification of each calf, steer and cow raised in Québec and destined for human consumption. In this way, in case one of the two tags is lost, the animal remains identified. In the event of a total loss of the original number, the responsibility for assigning a second number to the animal falls to the farmer or the stakeholder.

Choice of Tags

The two basic tags are composed of four pieces; for each ear of the animal, one male piece is attached to the female piece.

Regular Tags

Angus Tags

The logo of the Canadian Angus Association, affixed to an animal's tags, gives a guarantee to it that it has at least 50% Angus genetics. In addition, the rear, lime-green couloured tag makes it easy to spot the Angus bovines from the rest of the cattle making up the herd.

Limousin Tags

This new canadian-approved tag is distinguished by the pink parts on the back. Furthermore, the printing of Limousin on the two pieces of the visual tag, and printing of the canadian Limousin Association logo on the back part of the electronic tag, will show that these cattles belong to this breed.