Keep your Premises Identification account up to date

“Premises Identification (PID) is a tool used to plan for, control, and prevent the spread of livestock and poultry disease, such as avian influenza or foot and mouth disease, and is crucial for the livestock industry in the event of an animal health incident,” says Dr. Keith Lehman, chief provincial veterinarian with the Alberta government. “The quicker we can locate livestock, the more quickly and accurately we can respond. In fact, PID was used heavily in 2022 and 2023 to help control the spread of avian influenza and disseminate information to poultry owners in the province and will continue to be an important tool in managing the anticipated spread in future years.”

PID links livestock and poultry to premises, which are land locations within the PID system. Having accurate animal locations, contact information and other key data in one system is critical for a quick and effective emergency response.

PID can also be used as an early warning system to share information on diseases that could affect certain species on your premises. This is why it is crucial to have accurate species types listed on your account as these notifications are tailored to the species that would be affected.

The PID system has also become increasingly important for planning and response to environmental disasters like the floods and wildfires seen in recent years, further supporting the need to have accurate contact information and information about the animals on your premises.

“Effective emergency response and the ability to protect your animals depends on accurate information. It is important that you update your PID account when there are changes to your operation (for example, contact information, species, and maximum capacity) or if you no longer have livestock on your premises. Inaccurate and outdated information can put your animals at risk during an emergency by delaying notification or delivering an incorrect response from emergency responders.”

The following PID account information should be reviewed regularly:

• account contact information
• emergency 24/7 contact information for the premises
• location of the premises where animals are located (legal land description or geo-referenced coordinates)
• type of premises/operation (e.g., farm, abattoir, livestock auction, stable)
• types of animals raised, kept, displayed, assembled, or disposed of on the premises
• maximum capacity for each species of animal on the premises

“For those who don’t have a PID account, it is free, simple to apply for and easy to update,” points out Dr. Lehman. “If livestock or poultry are in your care and control, you need to apply for a PID account and obtain at least one PID number. If you operate a commingling site, such as a boarding stable, community pasture, livestock market, feedlot or fair ground, you are required to obtain a PID account, register all your commingling sites and provide the PID number(s) to the users of your site(s).”

Producers can review and update their information online, or by calling 310-FARM (3276) for more information.

For more information, see:

Livestock traceability

Premises Identification Program

Contact

Call 310-FARM (3276) for more information.

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