Lactanet Canada has announced the launch of DairyTrace, the national dairy cattle traceability program for dairy farmers in Canada.

DairyTrace includes two new traceability tools; a mobile app and on-line database portal, that will streamline and simplify the recording and reporting of animal identification and movement. In addition to these tools, the DairyTrace launch includes the release of a modern national website at www.DairyTrace.ca, that hosts information for dairy producers, other custodians of dairy cattle and consumers.

The DairyTrace program also includes customer service support, improved animal tags, and instructional materials in print, on-line and via video.

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.

“DairyTrace has been developed to provide dairy farmers with easy-to-use tools for managing their traceability obligations.” says Gert Schrijver, dairy producer and Chairman of Lactanet’s DairyTrace Advisory Committee. “All dairy farmers will also have access to a one-stop-shop for ordering their tags and receiving full customer 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 Québec where producers have successfully practiced this traceability model for many years using the SimpliTRACE system.”

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

Traceability affects over 1.4 million dairy cattle on over 10,000 farms.

Lactanet and Dairy Farmers of Canada have been working collaboratively since 2016 towards the common vision of a national dairy cattle traceability program.