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first post , and its a question

R

RedneckRepairs

Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2006
Messages
12
Location
Colorado
I guess this would go here , since it is a question on useage of rifid tags. Anyway .. For the folks using this new "wonder technology" what are your experiances with them ? What readers or wands are you useing ? what is the read range , ie how close to the tag do you have to be ? and finaly what software if any are you useing for your tracking ect.. We are just starting research pre purchace of a system and i gotta say its confusing .
 
Redneck- I can't really help you much-- as of yet, I've seen no one in this area that is set up for it...Most I've talked to are going to continue with the hot iron brands, brand inspections and certificates, and signed affidavits on feed, age, shots, implant and antibiotics info- and unless the industry starts paying premiums (above the cost of the tagging expense) for the tagged animals, not worry about the tags.....

I have the Premise ID and could get the tags and do the tagging before shipping- But so far locally we have seen no buyers offering more for the tagged animals........In fact the buyer that buys the majority of the cattle out of our area, says he prefers the brands (permanent ID) , and letting each feeder than use his own tagging or ID system when they arrive at each lot....Says it works better..
 
RedneckRepairs- Welcome to the Forum! Glad to have you join us.

Insofar as 'answering' your question - I probably will not be much help - as I suspect very few others will be also! I know that is not giving you much succor or relief for your current perplexity. As Oldtimer said - - as of yet - -few producers are set up for it - -yet. However, in my opinion, and in the opinion of most investigators, it is merely a matter of time until SOME manner of 'wonder technology' is going to be mandatory. It is tantamount to Automotive Seat Belts - one is going to be obligated to use it - whether one wants to - OR NOT!

I respect your industriousness in attempting to get a 'leg up' on the technology early - and I think that it is necesary to do so. I feel that as time progresses there will be more and better technics for accomplishing the deed than there is right nowl But it is coming, and it will be necessary for you to accede to the demands because there will be financial consequences inflicted upon those who do not comply - such as great difficulty in selling your product, or taking an extensive discount on your bottom line.

Perhaps you have already done this, but I would suggest that you contact the manufacturers of the equipment necessary (via the Internet, et al), and also, as you are doing through this Forum, seek those who are already using the materials. Other sources of information might be the Agricultural Colleges around the country, and also the manufacturers of "Cattle Handling Electronic Equipment". Somewhere in the midst of your seeking efforts a light may shine and lead you to your answers.

Sorry that I can't be of more help. But given a little more time - it will come - Believe me! When the time is short, and Breeders start to panic, the demand will be overwhelming and - VOILA - every manufacturer will suddenly come up THE answer(s)!

DOC HARRIS
 
I use the RFID tags but we don't read them at home. Would like to so let us know what system you get and how it works. Was looking at a scale and reader for my chute for management purposes.


The last Canfax report told of a $30 dollar premium on age verified cattle.
 
We use allfex tags and readers, and aginfolink for the software. It all depends on what your plans are and how many cattle you have if it will be worth it. We have been useing it for data management for about 10 years and there is no way we could do what we do with out it.
 
Thanks for the replys. I understand that this stuff is pretty new to all of us . Here in Colorado tho my understanding is it is about to become mandated . Now i think its pretty worthless myself for the stated pourpise ( we are a brand state so trackback is fairly simple anyway lol ), but if we are going to have to do it my thoughts are go ahead and impliment it . This would allow us to get the bugs out of our system before there could be any conciquinces . We run about 400 head of momma cows split between here in colorado , and Oklahoma. Or rather i should say that my stepdad does , the bride and I are starting to put cattle back on my family place via the work for him and partner out on some of the cattle .

I will keep digging and let everyone know what we come up with , and how well it works out for us .

Well its off to map out our premise id locations with gps now since we got some rain and i dont think getting in a field will be an option today lol . Thanks for the replys. I understand that this stuff is pretty new to all of us . Here in Colorado thou my understanding is it is about to become mandated . Now I think its pretty worthless myself for the stated purpose ( we are a brand state so track back is fairly simple anyway LOL ), but if we are going to have to do it my thoughts are go ahead and implement it . This would allow us to get the bugs out of our system before there could be any consequences . We run about 400 head of momma cows split between here in Colorado , and Oklahoma. Or rather I should say that my step dad does , the bride and I are starting to put cattle back on my family place via the work for him and partner out on some of the cattle .

I will keep digging and let everyone know what we come up with , and how well it works out for us .

Well its off to map out our premise id locations with GPS now since we got some rain and I don't think getting in a field will be an option today LOL .
 
we've found that it is confusing getting started with RFID tags. we like the z-tags for ear tags & had decided to go with their RFID tags also. the plan was to buy the iPod that Farnam has which would read the tags & store the info & then we could upload it into our record-keeping program. after talking to the owners/designers of our record-keeping program, we found out that the Farnam software (older programming that doesn't link well with Windows) isn't compatible with their program. we're now considering using the z-tag RFID tags but using an Allflex reader (they're compatible) and program which is compatible with out software. i still have to finish researching to make sure that using the different companies will work or we may just have to go with the Allflex tags as well.

sorry i wasn't much help, but i hope that gives you some more things to keep in mind when checking around.
 
most dairymen have been using rfid for1 or 2 decades. If you run into a dairyman quiz him - most are real decent and happy to visit with something besides a cow. I know an Amish dairyman that uses rfid to track milk production of each cow and regulate feed according to production. There is a way to make rfid work and likely 20 ways to fail, fortunately 1 way to succeed is ample.
 
I went with the allflex combos, my Maxi tag has the the RFID tag on it. I had them add my Premise ID and gave them a list of my current management numbers and then to fill out the order I had consecutive management numbers printed for future cattle.

The auto retracting tagger from Allflex will NOT work with the RFID tags, have to use the red total tagger, I think you don't use either the white or black insert.

I don't really use them yet, but I plan to get a Gallagher scale and Allflex reader, maybe with the Bluetooth module. Bluetooth is supposed to have about a 25 ft range (reader to computer). Not sure of range of tag to reader, can't be too great or you'd pick up interference.

Awesome technology, very simple. I use Cattlemax software for my records. They are set up for RFID.
 
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=101+livestock+RFID+Cattle+sale&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8


http://www.101livestock.com/

[email protected]
Jim is very busy but may point you in the right directions

Info needed for Source Verified Cows
0. Electronic Tags
0. Paper work includes
. EID#
. Age of cow by that #
. Premise #
Info needed for Source Verified Calves
0. Electronic Tags
0. Paper work includes
. Premise #
. Vaccination Program
. Calving dates (example: 1st calf born Sept. 1 last calf born Dec. 15)

To get your premise number you can log on to www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/pais/ or call (916)654-1447
Classes of cattle to be sold this year
1st.Comercial Cattle These are cattle that come to our market that are not individually identified. And although they may be on a vaccination program we can not verify this.
2nd Source Verified These cattle come with age, premise, and EID# . They also have a minimum vaccination program. (#1)
3rd Certified Natural These cattle are source verified and at least the minimum vaccination program and have not antibiotics or implants.
4th QSA Aproved These cattle are source and age verified with at least the minimum vaccination program and will be under 20 months at time of harvest. They are EID tagged.

Required Vaccination Programs to go with Electronic ID tags
Program #1
(if you are only able to work your cattle once?AT BRANDING? 8-WAY; 4-WAY + LEPTO; PASTURELLA W/ BACTERIN & TOXID
Program #2
?AT BRANDING? 8-WAY; 4-WAY + LEPTO 5 Modified Live Virus
PRIOR TO SHIPPING (30 days to 2 weeks)? 8-WAY; 4-WAY + LEPTO 5 Modified Live Virus although Pasturella is not required we recommend it.

Program #3
(the best program)
Same as Program 2 but wean calves? NASAL WEANING DEVICE APPLIED ? the best way to wean your calves with the less stress. Can be shipped after 2 weeks. or standard 30 day wean off cow.
Brand Names for Vaccines
8-WAY: vaccinations for bacillary hemoglobinuria (red water); clostridium (black leg); haemophilus somnus; septicum (malignant edema); novyi (black disease); sordellii & per-fringers types C&D (enterotoxemia & overeating)
Vision vaccinations by Intervet; Alpha, Bar-Vac, Pulmo Guard vaccinations by Boehringer; UltraChoice, Ultrabac, Fortress vaccinations by Pfizer; Piliguard by Schering; Bovi Plaz & Resist vaccinations.
4-Way: vaccinations for IBR (infectious bovine rhinotracheitis); BVD (bovine virus diarrhea); PI3 (parainfluenza3 virus); BRSV (bovine respiratory syncytial virus)
Cattlemaster vaccinations by Pfizer; Pyramid vaccinations by Fort Dodge; Elite, Express vaccinations by Boehringer; Respishield vaccinations by Merial; Covert & Exalt vaccinations; Titanuim 5
Pasturella: OneShot by Pfizer has the 8-way combined with Pasturella
Lepto: many of the 4-way shots have the Lepto included.
 
Full Steam Ahead

By Clint Peck Senior Editor

Jul 1, 2005 12:00 PM

If you think new-age livestock ID and the auction market method mix like oil and water, take a look at what's shaking out in California. Sitting a stone's throw from the Pacific Ocean is 101 Livestock Market, Inc., an average-sized livestock auction whose owners have thrown their hats into the electronic ID (EID) ring.


"It just makes sense to try and add value to what ranchers are producing — and we're doing it with source-verified (SV) cattle using EID," says Jim Warren, Aromas, CA, 101 Livestock's principal owner. "If in doing so it means stepping out of our comfort zone and having to work a little harder while learning something new, then so be it."

The movement toward EID started several years ago when Warren outlined a vaccination protocol for selling local cattle.

"It took some convincing to get ranchers into that program," Warren says. "But it didn't take long to prove its worth."

As time passed though, Warren saw he had to take selling preconditioned calves to another level. So, three years ago, he gave prospective consigners visual ear tags with numbers linked to their ranches.

He sold nearly 20,000 pre-vaccinated SV cattle the first year. The next year, he charged $1/ear tag and numbers dropped 25%. Last year, sales of such cattle rebounded to 20,000 head.

Along the way though, Warren noticed 101's consigners, through no fault of their own, weren't receiving the hoped-for performance data from feeders or packers. Not helping matters was the cumbersome task of manually recording ear tag numbers as cattle changed hands.

Last fall, Warren began learning about radio-frequency ID (RFID) technology and recognized EID provided the best bet for connecting cattle to their source. Looking down the road, he knew livestock producers would someday be required to meet the demands of USDA's proposed National Animal Identification System (NAIS)

"We knew it was coming and it was best to get out ahead of the game," Warren says.

No slowing down

While kinks still remain to be ironed out of the physical EID set-up, Warren challenges skeptics who say EID isn't practical in a sales yard.

"It doesn't slow us down a bit," he says. "Everything we do here is geared to this technology. We can see it has the potential to make our overall operation run more efficiently."

Warren and his team installed Allflex® RFID panel "readers" connected to 101's Sale Time Systems® livestock auction management software. The exit alley was split into a double alley, each with its own reader to scan ear tags as the animals leave the ring. The panels read the ear tag Warren provides, as well as similar tags from other manufacturers.

"As each lot is sold, EID numbers are read into the closeout software," says Brian Rainey, Allflex USA western regional sales representative, Visalia, CA. The key is getting cattle to pass the readers in single file, a design goal on which 101 and Allflex are collaborating.

"Actually, the faster the cattle go by the readers, the better," Rainey says. "You get signal 'collision' when multiple tags enter the read field at one time."

Rainey emphasizes the only data the ear tags carry is a number. He and Warren readily admit 101's EID system is evolving and isn't without glitches. He grants that over time, as EID technology changes, Warren will likely upgrade the system.

"Reading ability is just a matter of adapting the readers for each auction's working environment," Rainey adds.

Warren estimates 35,000 of the 40,000 head of cattle sold at 101 this year will be SV and EID-tag equipped.

Making it worthwhile

It's no secret consigners at 101 Livestock are capturing price premiums for nearly every class of cattle, says Erin Lacy, California Cattlemen's Association director of public relations. "The availability of SV cattle is certainly important to the repeat buyers at 101 Livestock."

She says sellers in 101's SV program are capturing an average $18/head premium for their $2.50-$3/head investment in EID tags. Recently, "choice" 500- to 550-lb. commercial steers brought $122-$130/cwt., compared to SV steers at $130-$138. Meanwhile, 600- to 700-lb. commercial steers captured $110-$115, while their SV mates brought $118-$132; And 800- to 900-lb. steers garnered a $2/cwt. premium.

"Prices are always a moving target, so we try to be conservative in reporting EID premiums and the benefits," Warren cautions. "But, the reality is it's far exceeded what we expected."

Lacy says a California beef packer recently sealed a deal with McDonald's for EID source-verified cull cows. Buyers for those cows have been in the seats at 101 and are currently paying a $20/head bonus for culls, which Warren passes to the producer.

About 75% of 101 Livestock's SV cull cows end up with McDonald's, with the rest going elsewhere, "because someone outbids McDonald's buyers," Warren notes.


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