Under federal regulations and/or proAction requirements, everyone who owns or has the possession, care or control of dairy cattle must record and report animal identity, movement, location and custodianship information. This affects over 1.4 million dairy cattle on over 10,000 farms.

“Providing protection and peace of mind to consumers is vital, and DairyTrace provides a high-quality national dairy cattle traceability system that takes our industry’s efforts to the next level,” says Gert Schrijver, a dairy producer and chairman of Lactanet’s DairyTrace Advisory Committee. “The launch of DairyTrace is a pivotal milestone for dairy producers, as it provides the data management infrastructure needed to provide – for the first time – a true pan-Canadian picture of the movements of dairy cattle.”

DairyTrace includes two new traceability tools: a mobile app and online database portal, which will streamline and simplify the recording and reporting of animal identification and movement. In addition to these tools offering convenience and efficiency, the DairyTrace launch includes the release of a modern national website that hosts information for dairy producers, other custodians of dairy cattle and consumers. The program also includes outstanding customer service support, improved animal tags and instructional materials in print, on-line and via video.

All dairy farmers will also have access to a one-stop-shop for ordering their tags and receiving full support from the DairyTrace customer services and National Livestock Identification for Dairy (NLID) program offered through Holstein Canada or from Agri-Traçabilité Québec (ATQ) in the province of Quebec, where producers have successfully practiced this traceability model for many years using the SimpliTrace system.

To accommodate non-producer affiliates outside Quebec, such as abattoirs, assembly yards and auction facilities, exchange systems have been built to allow information to be funneled into the DairyTrace database. This will allow affiliates the option of using the new DairyTrace system or Canadian Cattle Identification Agency’s (CCIA) Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS).

Lactanet and DFC have been working collaboratively since 2016 toward the common vision of a national dairy cattle traceability program. By harmonizing data under a common, national framework, DairyTrace will also promote information sharing and potentially add value to research and genetics initiatives, all while aligning with the traceability module of DFC’s proAction program. Lactanet and DFC acknowledge and express appreciation to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for financial support provided through its Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) program.  

Founded in 1934, Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is the national organization which defends the interests of Canadian dairy farmers and strives to create favourable conditions for the Canadian dairy industry. Working in accordance with supply management principles, DFC promotes safe, high quality, sustainable and nutritious Canadian dairy products made from 100% Canadian milk through various marketing, nutrition, policy and lobbying initiatives. Driven by a strong sense of community and pride, DFC and Canadian dairy farmers actively support a number of local and national activities. Visit Dairy Farmers of Canada for more information.