Sunday, March 23, 2025 - What is a farm PID Number in Alberta?
In Alberta, a farm PID number refers to a Premises Identification (PID) number, a unique identifier linked to a specific land location where livestock or poultry are kept, crucial for animal health management and traceability. Alberta’s PID Program was established to plan for, control and prevent the spread of animal diseases. Regulations requiring premises identification became law January 1, 2009, as part of the Animal Health Act. The PID Program is also used as an early warning system to notify animal owners of a natural disaster such as a flood or wildfire that could affect their animals.
A PID Number is a nine-character identifier (numbers and letters) associated with a specific location, starting with the letter "A" in Alberta. It is required for:
· Livestock manifests
· Purchasing medications from authorized medicine sales outlets
· Selling livestock at auctions
· Applying for agriculture grants and programs
· Completing official movement records like manifests and permits
If you own livestock, poultry, or other animals in captivity, you need to apply for a PID Account and obtain at least one PID Number. If you own animals kept at a premises other than a commingling site (like a stable, community pasture, or fairground), you are also required to obtain a PID Account and register all your commingling sites.
