Beef Cattle Electronic ID

What about Beef Cattle Electronic ID tracking?

     Radio transponders have a variety of uses, including pet and livestock identification and unlimited tracking of just about anything connected to a moveable object, be it an animal, truck, tractor or?

     Transponder sizes range from very small to about any size you need. Larger transponders can be read from a greater distance. Each transponder has its own unique many digit code. Transponders are passive devices, they have no batteries. Transponder prices for large quantities range down to around $2 or so each. Readers or receivers can be hand held units, and frequently have computer data outputs for logging who or what passed by or through the antenna. Antennas range from pen-shaped objects to 15-inch (40-cm) diameter circles, or larger.

     GPS stands for "Global Positioning System" and today GPS navigation is really within the reach of most everyone. GPS is no longer only for geeks. Most people already have to deal with GPS, in one form or another. Most useful for all of us is maybe GPS in cell phones. Thanks to this technology emergency services (E911, E112) can know where you are in case you need help. Even if you do not know or can not tell exactly where you are.

Animal tracking is very important!
     The National Animal Identification System is one of the most important topics in animal agriculture at this time. There has been much discussion on the program, implementation procedures, and protocol, but what does it mean to a producer?

     First, what is it? It is an animal identification system that will allow each animal that leaves the farm to be identified and traced to its farm of origin at any point in the production chain, and have records of each location where it was co-mingled with other animals.

     While this system is new, animal identification systems have been successfully implemented in the past. The identification system for brucellosis was initiated in the 1940s, and was instrumental in helping the fight against brucellosis. The difference in the brucellosis identification system of the 1940s and the National Animal Identification System of today is the scope and the global ramifications.

     Animal identification and tracking is more important today than ever. The threat of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy - "mad cow disease" - was brought to the attention of the American public after a cow tested positive for the disease in Washington in December 2003.

     The case resulted in a ban of cattle imported from Canada, where the cow came from, but it also raised awareness of the need to have the ability to trace the path of animals quickly and efficiently through every stage of production and ultimately back to their place of origin.