Canadian Cattle Identification Agency

What Canadian Cattle Identification Agency does

The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) is a not-for-profit, industry-initiated and led organization that serves as the sole Responsible Administrator designated under Canada's Health of Animals Regulations for the national livestock identification and traceability program. CCIA owns, manages, and maintains the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS), a secure national database that records animal identification numbers, birth dates, movement events (move-in, move-out, import, export), and retirement events for beef cattle, bison, and sheep, with goats and cervids as pre-approved species pending regulatory inclusion. The CLTS is accessible via web portal, SOAP/REST APIs (used by feedlots, auction marts, abattoirs, and tagging sites), and the CLTS MOBO mobile application on Apple and Android. CCIA also administers and distributes approved passive RFID animal indicators from six manufacturers (Allflex, Datamars/Z-Tags, Destron, Shearwell, Y-Tex, Leader Products), along with manufacturer-matched applicators and RFID readers (stationary and mobile), all carrying the unique 15-digit ISO 11784 CCIA identification number.

CCIA generates revenue through hardware sales of approved RFID tags and applicators via a Canada-wide authorized dealer network, a direct e-commerce webstore (tags.canadaid.ca), and a toll-free order desk, supplemented by authorized dealer fees and a multi-year dealer agreement framework. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors representing 15 livestock organizations across Canada, including producers, auction markets, feedlots, veterinarians, and processors, ensuring industry-led governance. Beyond regulatory compliance, CCIA has expanded into value-added services including exclusive Chain of Custody verification for the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) Certified Sustainable Beef Framework (from October 2023), Cargill abattoir eligibility verification, voluntary age verification, and a 24/7 CLTS Resource Centre providing free client training and support. With headquarters in Calgary, Alberta, and staff turnover including a new General Manager (Ashley Scott, 2024), CCIA operates as critical national traceability infrastructure for the Canadian livestock industry under CFIA regulatory oversight.

Name

Canadian Cattle Identification Agency

Legal name

Canadian Cattle Identification Agency

Website

https://canadaid.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) is a not-for-profit, industry-led Responsible Administrator that operates the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS), a national database managing animal identification and traceability for beef cattle, bison, and sheep across Canada. CCIA distributes approved RFID tags to producers through dealers, a webstore, and a toll-free order desk.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Livestock Traceability Services

NAICS

Farm Management Services (115116), Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (926140)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200), Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Herd Management Software & Identification (RFID, EID, Data Platforms) (AFAAAIAH), Animal Identification & Tracking Devices (Microchips, RFID, Tags, Scanners) (HLAMAFAL)

Keywords

• Livestock traceability
• Animal identification
• RFID ear tags
• Livestock tracking database
• Cattle identification

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Livestock Tag and Indicator Sales: CCIA administers and distributes approved and pre-approved livestock tags and applicators for beef cattle, bison, sheep, goats and cervids through authorized dealers, a toll-free order desk, and an online webstore. Tag issuance records are securely reported to the CLTS database.
2. Authorized Dealer Fees: Authorized dealers of approved animal indicators are subject to a dealer fee. Dealers must report issued events and returned events to the CLTS database within required timeframes.
3. CLTS Database Services: CCIA manages the CLTS database as a national traceability infrastructure. The organization provides free client support and one-on-one training, but generates revenue through tag sales, dealer fees, and potentially web service API access for third-party software providers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

CCIA is the Responsible Administrator of Canada's national livestock identification and traceability program. It owns, manages and maintains the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS), a secure national database that records and tracks animal identification, movement events, and premises data for beef cattle, bison and sheep. CCIA also administers and distributes approved CCIA RFID ear tags and applicators through authorized dealers, a toll-free order desk and an online webstore.

Product overview

The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) offers a unified livestock traceability platform centered on the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS), a national database for recording and tracking animal identification. The core CLTS platform is accessible via desktop login and the CLTS MOBO mobile app. CCIA's product portfolio includes approved RFID animal tags and indicators from six manufacturers (Allflex, Datamars/Z-Tags, Destron, Shearwell, Y-Tex, Leader Products), manufacturer-matched tag applicators, and RFID readers (stationary and mobile). The platform extends through value-added services including CRSB and Cargill Chain of Custody verification for sustainable beef programs, voluntary age verification, and CLTS Web Services (SOAP/REST APIs) for third-party software integration. CCIA also provides the CLTS Resource Centre for self-service support, free client training, and an e-commerce webstore for tag purchases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CLTS (Canadian Livestock Tracking System): A secure national database that allows clients and industry stakeholders to record and track animal identification.
• CLTS MOBO

Products and services

• Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS)

Quantifiable outcome

• Full animal trace-back capability from farm of origin to terminal slaughter for all tagged livestock in the national database
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023From October 2023, CCIA became the sole provider of Chain of Custody (COC) verification for the CRSB's Certified Sustainable Beef Framework across Canada (excluding Quebec). Certified operations can manage their CRSB commitments through the CLTS database, with 'CRSB Certified' status visible on animal indicators as they move through the supply chain. This provides a single source of verification for Canada's sustainable beef program.
• Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023VBP+ is one of the certification bodies approved by CRSB's Certified Sustainable Beef Framework for operations to participate in the Cargill Chain of Custody program. CCIA supports VBP+ certified operations through the CLTS database for CRSB COC verification purposes.
• Where Food Comes From Canada (WFCF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023WFCF is one of the certification bodies approved by CRSB's Certified Sustainable Beef Framework for operations to participate in the Cargill Chain of Custody program. CCIA's CLTS supports WFCF-certified operations with CRSB COC verification.
• Where Food Comes From Canada (WFCF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Cargill entered a service agreement with CCIA enabling all ear tag birthdates and movements recorded in CCIA's CLTS database to be recognized when confirming eligibility of cattle harvested at Cargill's two Canadian abattoirs. CCIA provides chain of custody verification directly to Cargill for CRSB CSBF-certified cattle processed by Cargill.
• Farm Credit Canada (FCC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFCC's Sustainability Incentive Program provides payments to FCC customers who are CRSB Certified through CRSB certification bodies (VBP+, WFCF, Ontario Corn Fed Beef Quality Assurance Program). Payments are calculated as a portion of lending up to $4,000/year. CCIA is listed as a relevant partner since CRSB certification involves CCIA's CLTS for sustainability verification.
• Alberta Beef ProducerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlberta Beef Producers is a member organization of CCIA's Board of Directors. The Board governs CCIA and provides strategic direction and industry representation. Howard Bekkering serves as Past Chair.
• Canadian Cattle AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian Cattle Association is a member organization represented on CCIA's Board of Directors, with Matt Bowman serving as Vice Chair. Provides industry leadership and governance oversight.
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)coreOthersCFIA is the regulatory body responsible for animal health and traceability regulations in Canada. CCIA operates as the Responsible Administrator under CFIA's Health of Animals Regulations. CFIA can access CLTS data in emergency situations. CCIA collaborates with CFIA on proposed livestock traceability regulations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Y-Tex Corporation: Y-Tex is a manufacturer of livestock identification tags, applicators, and insecticidal ear tags, and is a CCIA-approved tag supplier. Comparable as a CCIA-approved tag manufacturer competing for share of approved-tag sales to Canadian producers.
• Destron Fearing: Destron Fearing is a manufacturer of livestock electronic identification tags and readers and is a CCIA-approved tag supplier. Comparable because it provides RFID hardware used in regulated traceability programs and competes with other CCIA-approved manufacturers for tag sales.
• Leader Products: Leader Products is an Australian-based manufacturer of livestock identification tags and handling equipment, and is a CCIA-approved tag supplier. Comparable as an approved tag manufacturer selling into CCIA's regulated Canadian market while also serving other national traceability programs in its home region.
• Allflex Livestock Intelligence (MSD Animal Health): Allflex is the world's largest manufacturer of livestock identification tags and a CCIA-approved tag supplier, also offering herd management software and electronic identification readers. It is both a key supplier and adjacent competitor in traceability technology that CCIA depends on and competes alongside.
• Shearwell Data: Shearwell Data is a UK-based manufacturer of livestock EID tags, readers, and software, and is a CCIA-approved tag supplier. Comparable because it provides EID hardware and management software used in regulated traceability programs, though primarily serving the UK and EU markets.
• Datamars Livestock: Datamars is a major global supplier of RFID livestock tags (branded Z-Tags in North America) and readers, listed as a CCIA-approved manufacturer. It is a direct tag competitor and an adjacent technology provider offering herd management software that integrates with national traceability databases.

Regional players

• National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) Australia: NLIS is Australia's national livestock identification and traceability system, covering cattle, sheep, and goats with mandated RFID tagging and a centralized database. It is the most direct international equivalent to CCIA's CLTS in terms of mandate, scope, and regulatory structure, but operates in a different geography.
• British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS / Defra): BCMS, part of the UK's Animal and Plant Health Agency, administers the Cattle Tracing System for Great Britain, providing national cattle identification and movement recording. Comparable as a government-administered cattle traceability database, but operates in the UK and serves a different regulatory jurisdiction.

Broad incumbents

• Animal Disease Traceability (USDA APHIS): USDA APHIS administers the U.S. Animal Disease Traceability program, which sets federal standards for livestock identification and movement reporting. Comparable as a regulatory-driven national livestock traceability framework, though more decentralized with state-level administration rather than a single agency.

Direct peers

• DairyTrace (Lactanet): DairyTrace is Canada's national dairy cattle traceability program managed by Lactanet, which took over dairy bovine identification from CCIA in October 2020. It operates an analogous tag-and-database infrastructure for the dairy industry, making it the closest direct peer in product offering and regulatory role.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ccia_canada
• Facebookfacebook.com/CanadianCattleIdentificationAgency
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canadian-cattle-identification
• Instagraminstagram.com/ccia_canada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Cattle Identification Agency