REGINA, Saskatchewan – Canada is investing nearly $250,000 in livestock traceability and international marketing.

Using the Canadian Western Agribition trade show as the platform, the federal government contributed $100,000 under the Livestock Traceability Initiative (LATI) to ensure that all animals featured at the show have radio-frequency identification tags. Mobile reader technology will track livestock movement in and out of the exhibition.

Another investment of $147,000 through the government's AgriMarketing Program will help Agribition organize and coordinate international market activities and promotions in foreign markets. The funds will also establish an International Business Center to help connect international buyers with Canadian exporters.

"Our government's top priority remains the economy, and Canada's agriculture and agri-food industry plays an important role in creating jobs and keeping our economy strong," said David Anderson, a Member of Parliament for Cypress Hills-Grasslands. "These investments, totaling close to $250,000, will help enhance our traceability, animal health emergency management, and food safety systems, in addition to promoting our products in foreign markets, leading to increased profits for our farmers."

Anderson was attending the opening of Agribition's new cattle handling facility. Agribition is Canada's largest livestock exhibition with approximately 3,500 entries for various shows and sales, as well as several hundred head of rodeo stock.