Age Verification for cattle a vital marketing tool

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

With the possibility of mandatory age verification for beef cattle just around the corner in Alberta, Saskatchewan cattle producers should consider their own needs and cattle marketability in the coming months.

April 1, 2007, is the proposed mandatory age verification date for Alberta. With 75 per cent of Saskatchewan-fed cattle and over 65 per cent of feeder cattle going into the Alberta market, age verification makes good business sense for Saskatchewan producers, as well.

Sandy Russell, Beef Economist with the Livestock Development Branch of Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, says presently, age verification is the only export-safe classification.

“It isn’t mandatory to have age verification, but if you want to export – particularly to Japan, where cattle have to be less than 21 months – then our only route right now is age verification,” she said.

Dennis Fuglerud, president of the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, agrees, and says it’s important for producers to ensure their cattle's value in all markets.

“With age verification, the Canadian beef industry will be eligible for all markets,” he stated. “It’s also a way for producers to add value from possible premiums on their age-verified cattle.”

Age verification is rapidly becoming the expected norm in markets around the world, and verification from the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) is considered a standard those markets will accept.

The Government of Saskatchewan currently recommends voluntary age verification, meaning it is up to the individual producer to decide whether or not to verify his or her stock.

The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association also supports voluntary age verification, and Fuglerud has an important reminder about its benefits.

“Producers who don’t age-verify their cattle will be missing out on any premiums that may be paid for age-verified cattle,” he noted.

Roy Rutledge, manager of the Assiniboia and Weyburn auction marts, says although age verified cattle won’t always fetch a premium, it is a good, modern business practice to verify your herd.

“I have sellers who say to me, ‘What if we do it (age verify) and don’t get anything extra?’ and I tell them, ‘It doesn’t cost you anything to verify either, so what are you out?’” he said.

It is not necessary to age-verify cattle down to the exact date of their birth. Working with their stock tags, farmers can enter birth dates that correspond with tag numbers (if available), or can enter a calving start date associated with their tags.

The CCIA takes age verification only though its website at www.canadaid.com. The process can be a bit daunting for those who are not comfortable using the internet, but there are a number of resources to use for help, including asking the younger generation to navigate the process with you, asking a fellow producer who is familiar with the process, or calling CCIA toll-free at 1-877-909-2333.

“It’s about marketing opportunities,” said Russell. “Any time there’s an opportunity to capitalize on the market from your business perspective; it’s good to take it.”

For further information, contact:

Sandy Russell
Beef Economist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 933-5570