Pilot Project

To demonstrate the effectiveness of the CBA’s information exchange database, a pilot project commenced with participants across the value chain to determine to what standards, technical requirements and information elements can, and will be captured.  It requires commitment from all sectors in the beef-production value chain and incorporates attributes such as age and source verification, input from the Verified Beef Production on-farm food safety program participants, plus other brand programs or attributes currently under development by the industry.

During the pilot project, limited information on individual animals/carcasses will be uploaded to the database, allowing all participants access to this information during the pilot phase.

Due to time constraints, the pilot project initiates at the feedlot; capturing data only on cattle destined for slaughter. Some age-verified feeder cattle have been identified in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario feedlots.

Participating feedlots and packers are collecting specific production data linked to RFID numbers and uploading this into the CBA’s database.

The pilot is intended to prove that the CBA’s system of data upload, capture and transfer works. When rolled out to the entire industry, the potential for voluntary data and information exchange will only be limited by the imagination.