Age Verification is recognized as an important component of effective traceability systems. Producers can enter and store Birth Date information in the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) database and have it readily available for domestic and export markets.

Age verification is associating a Birth Date with an animal that was born on your farm and identified with an approved CCIA tag/indicator. To age verify, you must have a CLTS database account. To set up and activate a CLTS database account, contact CCIA at 1-877-909-2333 or email info@canadaid.ca.

If you do not have access to a computer or the internet, you can authorise a third party such as a neighbor, relative or local veterinary office to submit your information to the CLTS database. Feel free to call CCIA at 1-877-909-2333 or email info@canadaid.ca and a Client Support Representative can supply you with a list of third-party providers.

For instructions on how to age verify your animals: Click here

Age verification (AV) is not mandatory in Canada. Alberta regulation that required AV of cattle was repealed in 2020. Even though AV is not mandatory regulated information, some niche programs may require that animals are age verified to qualify. Producers are encouraged to record Birth Date information in the CLTS database administered by the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) as part of building a world-class traceability system.

There are two options, you can search for a Birth Date using the animal’s identification number(s) or you can generate a Birth Date Certificate. The CLTS database allows users to generate a Birth Date Certificate for any livestock that have a Birth Date registered in the CLTS database.

If a birth date or a modification is made after the animal is 9 months of age a note will appear on the Tag History and Birth Certificate indicating this change has been made.

Please note, only the herd of origin (where the animal was born) can submit a Birth Date in the CLTS database.

For instructions on how to search a Birth Date: Click here

After an animal’s Birth Date has been registered in the CLTS database, a Birth Date certificate can be created using the CCIA tag/indicator number.

For instructions on how to create a Birth Date Certificate: Click here

Detailed instructions are available in the CLTS Resource Centre at CLTS-Submit Events-Animal Events-birth Date or the Client Support Representatives can give you instructions over the phone. 1.877.909.2333.

Each auction mart has different requirements; we recommend calling the auction mart ahead of time to find out if they do require a birth certificate. Presenting a birth certificate is the only way to prove age verification at the point of sale.

• Check animals’ Birth Dates prior to purchasing. Any Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) users can see Birth Dates by RFID tag number.
• Demand to see the birth certificate prior to purchasing. Any potential errors could be addressed with the seller at that time.

It can only be done by the herd of origin account holder where the tag was issued to, not by any subsequent custodian of the animal.

Yes, it can. The account holder has the ability to change or delete from any of the CLTS applications including CLTS MOBO. This change can only be made by the herd of origin account holder. If a birth date or a modification is made after the animal is 9 months of age a note will appear on the Tag History and Birth Certificate indicating this change has been made.

If the requestor is the source of the Birth Date, they can make changes to the Birth Date directly in their CLTS account. If the requestor is not the source account then unfortunately, CCIA is unable to assist in making the change in Birth Date request as this is not mandatory/regulated data. While the CLTS database can receive Birth Date information from herd of origin account holders across Canada, there is no support available from CCIA for requests to change a Birth Date.

Some export markets require that animals/carcasses be under a certain age. When the tag is read at the abattoir, the Birth Date attached to that tag becomes part of the information that will follow the carcass. If the Birth Date is wrong, it may disqualify the carcass for the targeted market, leading to lower prices or a downgrade.

Two common errors:

• Producers apply a birth range to a series of tags, but do not use all of them on the same calf crop. The leftovers are applied to animals born the following year, but the birth information is not updated.
• The wrong year is used when inputting the Birth Dates or range.