VISION
ICAR, the universal language for sustainable animal production.
MISSION
ICAR is the global provider of independent Guidelines, Standards and Certification for animal identification, recording and evaluation.
ICAR – CREATING SYNERGY
ICAR, an International Non-Governmental Organisation (INGO), provides an open yet secure network to share with, learn from and interact with fellow members and related stakeholders in global animal production. By cooperating, sharing and enabling, ICAR strives to stimulate animal production around the globe that is more sustainable and efficient than the sum of the individual contributions.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aims of ICAR are to promote the development and improvement of animal identification, performance recording and evaluation in farm animal production.
Such objectives are achieved through the establishment of definitions and guidelines for measuring characteristics of economic importance.
The aim of ICAR is to promote the development and improvement of the activities of identification, performance recording and the evaluation of farm livestock. We achieve this through the following:
- ICAR establishes rules and standards, specific for the purpose of
- identifying animals, the registration of their parentage, recording their performance, evaluating their genetics and publication of such.
- identifying characteristics of production systems and their bearing on animal health, care, productivity, food safety and the environment.
- Promoting discussion and collaboration in all activities having to do with animal performance recording and evaluation, recording and evaluation of characteristics of production systems within and among international organisations, public authorities and industry.
- Encouraging the use of animal records for the purpose of assessing the value of animals and farm management systems, given that both aspects have a bearing on the profitability of animal production.
- ICAR provides a platform for cooperation and collaboration in all activities related to animal performance recording and evaluation within and among international organisations, public authorities and industry service providers.
- It encourages the use of performance recording data for the purpose of assessing the value on the profitability of animal production.
- It facilitates the interpretation of findings at the practical level by publishing reports showing the results obtained through the application of performance recording and evaluation methods.
ICAR AND ITS MEMBERS
ICAR is composed by more than 130 Members from over 55 countries. With the Guidelines and services, ICAR helps the creation of quality based animal production systems around the world; connected systems that are beneficial to both our 87 full members, our 30 associate members as well as farmers, legislators and consumers. This way, ICAR wants to contribute to a sustainable food chain, while keeping in mind what is beneficial to the open markets long term. We believe that an unbiased scientific approach provides the right fundamental framework for these common systems. We do our work with the highest respect to human and animal integrity and welfare.
ICAR – ACTING RESPONSIBLY
With the Guidelines and services, ICAR helps the creation of quality based animal production systems around the world; connected systems that are beneficial to both our 87 full members, our 30 associate members as well as farmers, legislators and consumers. This way, ICAR wants to contribute to a sustainable food chain, while keeping in mind what is beneficial to the open markets long term.
FOR WHOM?
ICAR is there for its members, both in developed and emerging markets: farm and breeding organisations facilitating ‘their’ local farmers in data-recording and evaluation of production animals. Ultimately this data should help farmers to make management (including breeding) decisions and produce healthy, safe and sustainable food in a valuable way. Therefore, ICAR cooperates closely with those organisations that provide products and services to our members in the recording and genetic process and in farm management information.
ICAR- IMPROVING CONTINUOUSLY
With the continuous improvement of animal production systems, ICAR seeks to help its members to become or remain competitive, so they can provide relevant services to their stakeholders (primarily farmers and ultimately consumers). We focus on groundbreaking innovations by facilitating and discussing research, thinking of new technologies and their impact on our guidelines and services.