Tri-Merit™
Description
Tri-MeritTM is an online data management tool that certifies traditional health processes and verifies age, source, and movement of individual cattle. It is means of turning “generic” cattle into “brand-name” cattle.
Tri-Merit cattle will satisfy market and government demands for verification of:
- Age, because U.S. trading partners want beef from animals of a certain age.
- Source, because leading retailers want to know where their product came from.
The Tri-Merit program will benefit the beef industry by:
- Premium prices to producers for process-certified and age/source-verified cattle.
- Readiness for the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).
Tri-Merit cattle will satisfy government requirements for verification of:
- Movement, because traceability is essential to biosecurity and food safety.
- Source, because Country of Origin labeling is scheduled for implementation in 1-2 years, and the NAIS is scheduled for full implementation in 3-5 years.
How Tri-Merit works
- A producer provides calf records to a Tri-Merit facilitator.
- The facilitator enters the records into the Tri-Merit electronic data warehouse.
- Records can be updated as needed.
- Records are completely secure.
- Records are accessible only by the facilitator and producer.
- When the calves are ready for market, the facilitator prints and signs a Tri-Merit certificate.
- Or the facilitator can electronically transmit the records to the next owner.
- There is no waiting as with traditional certification programs.
Tri-Merit makes it easy for the beef industry to capture opportunities now and be prepared to capture them in the future.
Tri-Merit™ is a trademark of Intervet Inc.
