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We EID and tag with Z tags at branding. We will occasionally "mother up" tags to cows off the horse, but we pull DNA on our replacement heifers when we further process them at weaning, so we know 100% for sure who is who anyway. We don't tag at birth, largely because of time and even more importantly because we are either too lazy to get off the horse, can't catch a calf in the bush going 100 mph, or no one here has any particular death wish (our cows tend to be quite "maternal").

We have usually had 95%+ retention with EID tags but last year we hit a batch where the buttons just fell off (same tagger, same technician, same location, same side of the head, same environment). We tested some tags for CCIA once that had about a 10% retention. They did not make it to market, but we still had to pay for the tags and replacements.

Before we ship we check the cattle, and I send a signed afadavit with every load that they were checked and tagged when they stepped onto the truck. This will hopefully prevent the tag cops from randomly picking us out of the group for one or two missing tags.

We do have an EID reader that I put together from components on Ebay. It is a heavy duty handheld computer with a scanner. It kind of looks like the kind they carry around the store shelves at a Walmart. It has some Cow/Calf software I grabbed from U NV for about $30. It works pretty well, and I was able to keep the price right. Also got a 50% rebate through a program I can't remember the name of.

We do have one or two older bulls that may have lost tags, but I will have to pay to have them tagged at the market. I don't think they can even fit down our chute, although I retagged a 5 year old bull for sale this summer that was just standing in the alley. It was good for a bit of a rush.

I was/am supportive of national ID and personal responsibility and even volunteered to toughen up by going on a speaking tour of producer events. The basic premise worked pretty well and it was to Tag cattle that leave the farm with a tag that is tied to your contact information. I have some pretty serious questions about direction and practicality in the Canada today.

FWIW - we brand our cows too.

<blockquote data-quote="RSL" data-source="post: 504401" data-attributes="member: 3074">We EID and tag with Z tags at branding.&nbsp; We will occasionally &quot;mother up&quot; tags to cows off the horse, but we pull DNA on our replacement heifers when we further process them at weaning, so we know 100% for sure who is who anyway.&nbsp; We don&#039;t tag at birth, largely because of time and even more importantly because we are either too lazy to get off the horse, can&#039;t catch a calf in the bush going 100 mph, or no one here has any particular death wish (our cows tend to be quite &quot;maternal&quot;).We have usually had 95%+ retention with EID tags but last year we hit a batch where the buttons just fell off (same tagger, same technician, same location, same side of the head, same environment).&nbsp; We tested some tags for CCIA once that had about a 10% retention.&nbsp; They did not make it to market, but we still had to pay for the tags and replacements.Before we ship we check the cattle, and I send a signed afadavit with every load that they were checked and tagged when they stepped onto the truck.&nbsp; This will hopefully prevent the tag cops from randomly picking us out of the group for one or two missing tags.We do have an EID reader that I put together from components on Ebay.&nbsp; It is a heavy duty handheld computer with a scanner.&nbsp; It kind of looks like the kind they carry around the store shelves at a Walmart.&nbsp; It has some Cow/Calf software I grabbed from U NV for about $30.&nbsp; It works pretty well, and I was able to keep the price right.&nbsp; Also got a 50% rebate through a program I can&#039;t remember the name of.We do have one or two older bulls that may have lost tags, but I will have to pay to have them tagged at the market.&nbsp; I don&#039;t think they can even fit down our chute, although I retagged a 5 year old bull for sale this summer that was just standing in the alley.&nbsp; It was good for a bit of a rush.I was/am supportive of national ID and personal responsibility and even volunteered to toughen up by going on a speaking tour of producer events.&nbsp; The basic premise worked pretty well and it was to Tag cattle that leave the farm with a tag that is tied to your contact information.&nbsp; I have some pretty serious questions about direction and practicality in the Canada today.FWIW - we brand our cows too.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="RSL, post: 504401, member: 3074"] We EID and tag with Z tags at branding. We will occasionally "mother up" tags to cows off the horse, but we pull DNA on our replacement heifers when we further process them at weaning, so we know 100% for sure who is who anyway. We don't tag at birth, largely because of time and even more importantly because we are either too lazy to get off the horse, can't catch a calf in the bush going 100 mph, or no one here has any particular death wish (our cows tend to be quite "maternal"). We have usually had 95%+ retention with EID tags but last year we hit a batch where the buttons just fell off (same tagger, same technician, same location, same side of the head, same environment). We tested some tags for CCIA once that had about a 10% retention. They did not make it to market, but we still had to pay for the tags and replacements. Before we ship we check the cattle, and I send a signed afadavit with every load that they were checked and tagged when they stepped onto the truck. This will hopefully prevent the tag cops from randomly picking us out of the group for one or two missing tags. We do have an EID reader that I put together from components on Ebay. It is a heavy duty handheld computer with a scanner. It kind of looks like the kind they carry around the store shelves at a Walmart. It has some Cow/Calf software I grabbed from U NV for about $30. It works pretty well, and I was able to keep the price right. Also got a 50% rebate through a program I can't remember the name of. We do have one or two older bulls that may have lost tags, but I will have to pay to have them tagged at the market. I don't think they can even fit down our chute, although I retagged a 5 year old bull for sale this summer that was just standing in the alley. It was good for a bit of a rush. I was/am supportive of national ID and personal responsibility and even volunteered to toughen up by going on a speaking tour of producer events. The basic premise worked pretty well and it was to Tag cattle that leave the farm with a tag that is tied to your contact information. I have some pretty serious questions about direction and practicality in the Canada today. FWIW - we brand our cows too. [/QUOTE]

Verification: What animal is usually the product of a ranch?