c/o BC Cattlemen's Association #4-10145 Dallas Drive, Kamloops, BC V2C 6T4 Toll Free: 1-877-688-2333 Fax: 250-573-5155 Age@cattlemen.bc.ca
IMPORTANT NEWS ABOUT AGE VERIFICATION: Age verified cattle being shipped to auction marts MUST HAVE animal birth certificates upon arrival at the stockyard. Cattle buyers require them before transport.
BC Cattlemens Association is no longer able to offer the age verification service in the office, but will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
ABOUT AGE VERIFICATION (AV) Age verification is when cattle producers record and enter birth date information for individual (or herds) cattle.
WHY AGE VERIFY? At present some of Canada's international trading partners are requiring Age Verification as a prerequisite for export. By Age Verifying their cattle, producers are increasing the potential for access to domestic and international markets. For these reasons we strongly recommend that British Columbia producers age verify this years calf crop.
IS IT MANDATORY? At this time age verification in British Columbia is voluntary but could move to a mandatory system in the future. The Alberta Livestock & Meat Agency is moving toward mandatory age verification in 2009.
GETTING ASSISTANCE WITH VERIFICATION As a service to our members, the BCCA is assisting producers in answering questions regarding Age Verification and RFID tagging.
Due to short staff we are unable to fulfill the demands of age verification in the office and are looking into other options to provide age verification assistance to our members.
For those who do not have access to the internet, the Peace River regional association has offered to provide the age verification service free of charge for all BCCA members. Please call Judy Madden at (250) 782-7875.
Dixie Roberts from Williams Lake has also offered to assist producers to age verify their calves for a $10 fee. Please call Dixie at (250) 396-7085.
Jesse McKersie from the Kootenay Livestock Association has offered to assist members from the Kootenay region for a minimum of $10. Please call Jesse at (250)349-5275.
HELPFUL TIPS FOR AGE VERIFICATION In order to make this age verification process run smoothly this year, keep a record of all the tags you put in your calves this spring and get it done as soon as possible.
All age verification providers must have the tag numbers at least two weeks prior to sale day! And you must fill out a third party form.
AV BULLETIN BOARD
To enter animal birthdates: Canadian Livestock Tracking System
For a Third Party Form (Click Here).
To get help uploading your Age Verification (Click Here) for step by step help
To get help printing off your calving birth certificate (Click Here)
For assistance with Age Verification: Canadian Cattle Identification Agency 1-877-909-2333
The BCCA office is pleased to answer any questions you may have about age verification and will be happy to assist you in learning how to age verify yourself. Due to the volume of requests that come into the office, we ask that producers call the numbers listed for their regional associations to assist them in completing the age verification process.
Age verification is still voluntary but as of January 2009 all calves marketed into Alberta must be age verified.
