Canadian Livestock Records Corporation

What Canadian Livestock Records Corporation does

Canadian Livestock Records Corporation (CLRC) is an Ottawa-based private corporation that operates as the primary animal pedigree registry for Canadian breed associations under the federal Animal Pedigree Act. Founded in 1937/1938, CLRC serves over 50 breed associations across cattle, horses, goats, sheep, swine, dogs, bison, foxes, and donkey & mule species, along with thousands of individual breeders in Canada and the United States. Its core function is verifying and recording animal registrations, maintaining pedigree databases, issuing certificates, and recording ownership transfers, embryo certificates, and leases on behalf of its member associations.

CLRC's platform is anchored by ERA 5.0, a fully web-based electronic registration system launched in April 2017 that replaces the earlier ERA 4.0 desktop client. Accessible at www2.clrc.ca without software installation, ERA 5.0 supports online application submission, application tracking, membership renewal, account management, and integrated DNA/SNP test ordering. The platform is supported by a fully integrated database combining registration and performance information, electronic herd books published per association, and electronic data transfer capabilities to genotyping labs, genetic centres, magazine publishers, and breeders. CLRC also distributes Ketchum tattoo equipment, CCIA national tags, and AVID microchips, and offers secretarial and complete management services to a subset of breed associations. DNA/SNP testing is coordinated through four laboratory partners: Bureau Veritas Laboratories, GenServe Laboratories Inc., Neogen Canada, and VGL Laboratories.

CLRC monetizes through transaction-based registration fees, recurring membership services, professional administrative services, hardware distribution, and publishing services, with each breed association operating under its own fee schedule published as downloadable PDFs. The organization is bilingual (English/French) and reaches customers through phone-based inside sales, a self-serve web portal, email, an annual general meeting by ZOOM, and media releases. Strategic positioning includes the November 2023 launch of the Canadian Genetic Services Network targeting genetic improvement for Canadian sheep and goats, a segment where domestic supply covers only 40% of Canadian lamb demand and goat populations have doubled over 30 years.

Name

Canadian Livestock Records Corporation

Legal name

Canadian Livestock Records Corporation

Website

https://clrc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Canadian Livestock Records Corporation operates the primary federal animal pedigree registry in Canada under the Animal Pedigree Act, serving over 50 breed associations and individual breeders across cattle, horses, goats, sheep, swine, dogs, and bison via its ERA 5.0 web-based registration platform and DNA/SNP testing coordination.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Livestock Registry Services

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Breed Registry, Pedigree & Performance Recording Services (AFAEAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Livestock Identification, Traceability & Recordkeeping Services (Tagging, RFID) (AFAEALAF)

Keywords

• Livestock registry services
• Pedigree management
• Breed association management
• Animal registration services
• DNA testing coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Registration Services: Fees charged for verifying applications, printing certificates, maintaining pedigree databases, recording ownership transfers, embryo certificates, leases, and other registration services per breed association fee schedules.
2. DNA/SNP Testing Services: CLRC offers DNA/SNP testing through partnerships with Bureau Veritas Laboratories, GenServe Laboratories Inc., Neogen Canada, and VGL Laboratories. Applications submitted online with hair samples mailed to office.
3. Membership Services: Maintaining membership lists, issuing membership cards, providing statistics, mailing labels, and renewal notices for breed associations.
4. Administrative Services: Custom reports, data transfer, mass mailings, printing, form distribution, secretarial services to breed associations including complete management services for some associations.
5. Product Distribution: Distribution of Ketchum products including tattoo equipment, ear tags, CCIA national tags, and AVID microchips, readers and syringes.
6. Publishing Services: Production of forms, newsletters, catalogues, promotional materials, business cards and logos including design, printing and mailing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Canadian Livestock Records Corporation (CLRC) provides animal registration, pedigree recording, and breed registry management services for Canadian livestock breed associations and individual breeders operating under Canada's Animal Pedigree Act. Core offerings include electronic registration via the proprietary ERA 5.0 platform, DNA/SNP testing coordination through partnered laboratories, membership administration, certificate issuance, ownership transfer recording, and full or partial secretarial management services for breed associations.

Product overview

CLRC is a livestock registry and pedigree management organization providing world-class animal registry services through a combination of its proprietary ERA 5.0 electronic registration platform and a comprehensive suite of ancillary services. The core offering is the ERA 5.0 web-based application for animal registration, DNA/SNP testing coordination, membership management, and application tracking. This is supported by administrative services (custom reports, data transfers, membership maintenance, document storage), registration services (certificate printing, tattoo/herd name registers, pedigree databases), CLRC Secretarial Services for breed associations, and product distribution (Ketchum tattoo equipment, AVID microchips). The Canadian Identification Project (Can ID) and Equine Can ID serve as sub-brands for non-purebred animal recording. All services are governed by the Animal Pedigree Act.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ERA 5.0 Electronic Registration Application A fully web-based electronic registration platform enabling breeders to submit animal registration applications, renew memberships, update account information, track application status, and order DNA/SNP testing online. Accessible via browser without software installation; supports tablets.
• DNA/SNP Testing Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Electronic submission saves mailing time - applications reach CLRC immediately upon submission
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Canadian Genetic Services NetworkflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2023Launched November 21, 2023, this network aims to develop strategies for genetic improvement of sheep and goats in Canada. The initiative formalizes a collaboration to improve genetics and data collection for Canadian sheep and goat producers. Brian Sullivan serves as project lead.
• Bureau Veritas LaboratoriescoreTechnology or IntegrationCLRC partners with Bureau Veritas Laboratories for DNA/SNP testing services. CLRC registrars match hair samples with applications and submit to the appropriate laboratory for processing.
• GenServe Laboratories Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationCLRC partners with GenServe Laboratories Inc. for DNA/SNP testing services. Applications can be submitted online and hair samples mailed to CLRC office for forwarding to the laboratory.
• Neogen CanadacoreTechnology or IntegrationCLRC partners with Neogen Canada for DNA/SNP testing services. Hair samples are matched with applications at CLRC office and submitted to Neogen for analysis.
• VGL LaboratoriescoreTechnology or IntegrationCLRC partners with VGL Laboratories for DNA/SNP testing services. This partnership enables testing for several beef breeds as part of the ongoing genetic testing program.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Jockey Club: The US national breed registry for Thoroughbred horses. It is the most direct functional peer to CLRC, performing pedigree registration, performance data recording, and DNA verification under a similar statutory framework, just for a single species and US jurisdiction.
• American Kennel Club: The largest purebred dog registry in the United States. CLRC also operates dog registries (Canine Federation of Canada), and AKC offers the same combination of pedigree records, DNA testing, registration certificates, and member services that CLRC provides.
• American Hereford Association: A US beef cattle breed registry offering pedigree recording, registration, and performance data services. Comparable to CLRC's services for beef breed associations such as Canadian Hereford, Canadian Angus, and Canadian Blonde d'Aquitaine.
• American Angus Association: One of the largest US beef cattle breed registries, providing pedigree registration, performance programs, and genomic testing services. Directly comparable to CLRC's cattle breed association registry operations.
• American Quarter Horse Association: The world's largest breed registry for Quarter Horses. AQHA provides the same suite of services CLRC offers to its horse breed associations (Canadian Morgan Horse Association, Canadian Percheron Association, Clydesdale Horse Association of Canada): registration, transfers, performance data, and member management.
• National Sheep Association: A UK-based sheep breed registry and industry body. Comparable to CLRC's services for Canadian Sheep Breeders' Association and Icelandic Sheep Breeders of North America, and relevant given the Canadian Genetic Services Network's focus on small ruminants.
• American Dairy Goat Association: The US national dairy goat breed registry. Directly comparable to CLRC's goat breed association services (Canadian Goat Society, Canadian Meat Goat Association), offering registration, milk production recording, and linear appraisal.
• Holstein Association USA: The largest dairy cattle breed registry in the world, providing registration, classification, genetic evaluations, and DNA services for Holstein cattle. Directly mirrors CLRC's cattle registry operations across Canadian cattle associations.

Others

• Canadian Cattle Identification Agency: Administers livestock traceability and identification in Canada, including CCIA tags that CLRC distributes. Not a breed registry, but adjacent — both serve livestock traceability and identification needs in the Canadian livestock ecosystem.
• Dairy Herd Improvement: A network of US dairy record-keeping organizations providing performance data and management services to dairy producers. Comparable to CLRC's integrated registration and performance database approach, but focused on milk production data rather than pedigree.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canadian-livestock-records-corporation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canadian Livestock Records Corporation