Cattle Ear Tags Explained

The Importance Of Livestock Ear Tags

Whether you own a herd of cattle or have driven by a farm, you’ve probably seen those big, plastic tags hanging from a cow’s ear, similar to an earring. But this is no fashion statement: cattle ear tags have been a dependable way to identify and track cattle for over 20 years in Canada. But how is it done? Who does it? What if a cow doesn’t have any? Our expert brokers have all the details. 

What Are Cattle Ear Tags?  

A cattle ear tag is exactly as it sounds—an ear tag for cattle. These official identification devices provide vital information about the cattle it’s on, including:  

• The animal’s unique 15-digit identification code  
• RFID technology to track the animal  
• The colour code for beef or dairy cattle  
• Bar code that corresponds to the unique identification code  

Additional information or details that may be contained on the ear tags include the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) logo and breed code.  

All identification codes on cattle ear tags will start with “124,” the country code for Canada, and be approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). For calves that will be registered, the tags need to be applied within 24 hours of birth, and their individual identification code stays with them for life. Producers are responsible for tagging their individual animals and must have a radio frequency identification (RFID) ear tag before they leave their farm of origin.  

However, as cattle owners or producers are responsible for ear tags, if you don’t have the necessary equipment on-site, you can take the dairy or beef animal to an approved tagging site for proper ear tagging and identification.

Why Does My Herd Need Ear Tags?  

Cattle ear tags allow for accurate cattle traceability, telling people about the cow’s farm of origin, breed, purpose, and where it travelled. This helps with animal disease outbreak control measures, food safety, and export market maintenance for the Canadian beef and dairy industries.  

What Are The Different Types of Cattle Ear Tags?  

All cattle ear tags in Canada must be CCIA-approved and have a unique, individual identification number that allows you to track the animal. However, there are two main types of cattle ear tags, which are:  

• Dairy Cattle Tags: These are white tags placed in both ears of a calf within 24 hours of birth that indicate they are dairy calves.  
• Beef Cattle Tags: These are yellow tags that are placed in the ear of beef cattle. As of September 2023, dairy calves who will be going into beef/veal production should have white ear tags rather than yellow ones. These come as a single tag or as a dual set.  

While dual tagging is considered best practice for cattle ear tags, single tags can be used in some cases. If just a single device is being used, it should be placed in the right ear of the cattle in question.  

All animals that leave their farm of origin must have an ear tag equipped with RFID technology to ensure the animal’s movements can be tracked. The program was launched in the early 2000s to ensure the health and safety of the Canadian beef industry following major health scares. As RFID technology evolved, it has become easier to read and get more accurate information on an individual animal’s movements.  

Are There Any Reporting Requirements For Ear Tags?  

As stated above, the producer is responsible for equipping their animals with ear tags for the electronic identification of animals, and all tag activations or birth events for registered animals must be reported for all animals born on their farm or ranching operations. If an animal identification device tag is lost, they must be issued a new ear tag, and the latest and old numbers must be reported if applicable. Should an animal die on your property, you must report the on-farm disposal or ear tag retirement to CFIA.  

It is also prohibited to send, transport or receive animals without approved ear tags, and it is forbidden to remove an approved ear tag unless you are an operator of an abattoir.  

Domestic cattle producers and dairy farm owners should stay up to date on their reporting requirements by consulting with their industry groups, such as Canadian Beef or Canadian Dairy Farmers Associations and breed associations, and with regulatory officials with the CFIA. Our Morison Insurance brokers can also help you keep abreast of any requirements or changes for the livestock industry.  

What Happens If I Don’t Have Cattle Ear Tags?  

Ear tag compliance is mandated at the federal level by the CFIA. Should a party be found in violation of domestic cattle ear tag regulations, four potential actions may be taken for enforcement:  

• Seizure and detention, in the case of falsified tags  
• Issue a letter of non-compliance  
• Notice of violation, potentially with a fine  
• Prosecution or legal action  

Fines for violating ear tag requirements can range from $500 to up to $4,000.  

It’s important that you consult with local agriculture and industry groups, the CFIA, and your Morison Insurance broker to ensure you are in-compliance and up-to-date with regulations for your farming operations.  

What If There’s A Missing Ear Tag?  

Provided you’re in compliance with industry regulation, there are two different scenarios for missing cattle ear tags: either an individual animal lost or damaged from daily activities or an animal arrived at your farm without them.  

In the former case, you need to contact an approved cattle ear tag supplier to get replacement ear tags within 28 days of noticing the missing or damaged ear tags. Be sure to provide them with all the necessary information, such as the unique identification code. Once the new ear tags arrive, equip them for the animal as soon as possible, either placing them in the same spot of dairy cattle or in the right ear for beef cattle. Make sure to update your records and keep the tag replacement records for no less than two years.  

If an animal arrives at your property with no ear tags, keep them on hold until the new ear tags can be placed on them if they need replacement tags. However, if there is no sign that the animal has been equipped with ear tags, do not accept it onto your livestock facility or property, and contact the proper authorities immediately to report it. All domestic cattle within Canada should be equipped with ear tags to ensure the health and safety of the livestock industry, and an animal with none is a clear violation of those rules. 

How Do Cattle Ear Tags Impact My Insurance?  

There are a number of ways ear tags can impact your farm insurance in Ontario. These include:  

• As ear tags can trace the movement of animals, in the event of animal disease outbreaks, the ability to track and contain the potential spread and reduce risk for insurance companies.  
• Proper use shows regulation compliance, which is looked upon favourably by insurers.  
• As they aid in the identification of animals and proof of ownership, they are a good tool for insurance claims, including in the case of recovering lost or stolen animals, as well as deceased animals.  
• Proper tagging and tracing is a sign of good business practice, which can result in lower insurance premiums; likewise, failure to comply can result in higher insurance costs or policy denials.  
• If you need to make an insurance claim, ear tag information can provide accurate records and streamline the verification process.  

Ultimately, by following proper ear tagging processes and regulations, you can have more favourable insurance considerations. 

How Can I Ensure Compliance?  

There are a number of ways you can stay in compliance with domestic cattle ear tag requirements. These include:  

• Using CFI-approved tags  
• Properly apply tags  
• Equipped registered bovine animals with tags within 24 hours of birth  
• Ensure animals have RFID ear tags before they leave their farm of origin  
• Report all tag activation or birth events  
• Replace and report all lost cattle ear tags  
• In the event a tagged animal dies on your property, promptly report the on-farm disposal and ear tag retirement  
• Keep accurate records of your cattle ear tag numbers and animal information such as breed and movement of animals  
• Use approved tagging sites if you don’t have the needed equipment to safely tag cattle  
• If an untagged animal arrives at your farm, promptly apply for an approved tag for it.  
• Stay up-to-date with regulations, changes, or requirements from CFIA and provincial authorities.  

Speak with Your Local Morison Insurance Expert

As your farm insurance providers, we understand how hard you work and juggle a million different regulatory requirements to ensure your animals are safe and properly cared for. That’s why our team works hard to ensure we can provide you with the support you need. Whether it’s questions about policy coverage or how regulation changes may impact your farming operations, our insurance brokers can help.