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RFID tags vs Branding

Unfortunatley big muddy rancher Manitoba does not have brand inspections. The notion was that RFID tags were enough. Not too sure how anybody can come to that conclusion. I ran a bunch of grassers that were raised at my place for a summer. I tagged 100 of them. They were straight out the chute and into the pasture on the homestead so there was no chance of rustling or snagging tags on twine in bale feeders. I made good and sure that those tags were put in correctly because I did not want to run those crazy yahoos back through the chute when it was time to ship them out to the local cattle buyer. They would have spent a good 3 maybe 4 months on grass( for the love of me I can't remember) :oops: But when those grassers came into the coral to get shipped there was 14 tags missing! Now I'm not a brain surgeon but that hardly seems like the "fool proof" system that these tags are made out to be! Not only that but the fellow who might rustle one of these cattle that lost there tags would not even be guilty of tampering with the tags would they? Now this might be going out on a limb but I think it's becoming an animal rights issue. Manitoba has now passed legislation that animal welfare officers have jurisdiction over agricultural animals. Meaning if some one sees me branding an animal. It now becomes up to the welfare officers discretion if I'm abusing these animals or not. I feel if Manitobans had a brand inspection it would be a "possible excuse" to brand these animals. But without brand inspections it becomes a moot point. Maybe I'm being a bit of a conspiracy theorist here, but with all the pressure that the livestock sector has been receiving from fringe animal rights groups Sometimes I begin to wonder. What are your thoughts?
 
Branding is the only permanent ID. The RFID tags would be useful for the purpose they were designed for as track back incase of disease outbreak but not for permanent ID.
Yes I think we are if not under attack at the very least an erosion of private property rights by animal rights organizations.
 
I've been using Allflex RFID button tags at birth, then put the matching large tag in a few months later. Every time I run the herd through the chute, there are a few that need new tags, I'm not impressed with the retention rate. This has been going on for 4-5 years. I understand the theory is that implants can migrate, but is there any scientific evidence that they actually can if you do it in the right spot? The other option I saw once was an RFID bolus with temperature sensor that stays in the reticulum like a magnet.
 
Ben H said:
I've been using Allflex RFID button tags at birth, then put the matching large tag in a few months later. Every time I run the herd through the chute, there are a few that need new tags, I'm not impressed with the retention rate. This has been going on for 4-5 years. I understand the theory is that implants can migrate, but is there any scientific evidence that they actually can if you do it in the right spot? The other option I saw once was an RFID bolus with temperature sensor that stays in the reticulum like a magnet.

But then unless everybody has a reader how do you know it's there?


A ear tag? :wink: :D
 
Actually, one of the Australian companies has a bolus and a small ear tag that reads "ID BOLUS."
To me, the visual ear tag is simply a copy and easier way to read the rfid number without a scanner. I don't own scales and a scanner yet, but when I do the animals will be all ready to go.

If you care about animals having an rfid and utilize it, you're going to have a scanner and can id an animal with a lost tag (with the bolus').

I'm not advocating by any means the need for requiring people to do it, it's a personal choice. I had a discussion with my State Vet this summer about the status of NAIS, the direction they seem to be going is requiring something to ID an animal if it crosses State lines.

I meant so post some links to sites with bolus rfid's I found last night, but I forgot to click Submit.

http://www.magiix.net/

http://www.leaderproducts.com.au/04_products/02_RFID/items/05_CattleBolus/CattleBol.html

http://www.ezidavid.com/rb.html

Destron Fearing (Livestock segment of Digital Angel) doesn't seem to have a bolus, but their rTag Dynamic is an interesting concept.

http://www.destronfearing.com/cattle.php
 

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