Animal Identification

Who Is Who? Choosing the Right ID Strategy for Your Herd

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 17:13:29 GMT

Cattle identification is important at every sector of the industry, with many options and varying permanence. In new technological advancements, Electronic identification (EID) tags are becoming more popular with different management programs as well as freeze branding.

Freeze Branding

Rains Simmental located in western Kansas near Oakley uses freeze brands on their red and black Simmental cattle. They brand cattle with both their ranch/ownership brand and the animals’ individual tattoo number.

“We do their individual tattoo number brand on their left hip and then our ownership brand right under it on the left hip as well,” explains McKellen Rains. “We try to brand everything.”

The Rains family freeze brands the individual tattoo number and their ownership brand right under it on the left hip.

(Rains Simmental)

There are certain laws and protocols for branding in many western states where brand inspections are required for proof of ownership. Brands must be registered with the state and have different regulations in terms of locations and brand details. Other states, many in the Midwest and East, do not have brand inspection offices and do not require registration with the state.

“We’re looking to buy more spots on the left side,” Rains explains. “I’ve got three other brothers, so we’re looking to buy more spots on the left side and we can still use the same brand, but split up and have him on the shoulder, me on the ribs. That way, we don’t have to get another brand and stuff like that where we can just split it up and have the same ownership brand on the left side.”

(Wyatt Bechtel)

Hot branding is also an option, with the same regulations in brand states. There are pros and cons to both brand forms, but Rains prefers freeze branding because of the eye appeal and legibility.

“It just looks better. It comes in white if done correctly,” he adds. “We prefer the freeze brand just because it comes back in white, just easier to read. There’s nothing wrong with the hot brand. It’s just easier to read with a freeze brand over a hot brand.”

Overall, Rains likes that the freeze brand is a permanent form of identification. Cattle can often tear an ear and lose a visual tag. Rains also likes being able to see the animal’s tattoo number from farther away.

“It seems like you can’t have enough identification anymore,” he says. “It makes it easier for me, and for older guys and stuff like that, they like it because a lot of them guys struggle with reading tags. Just the ease of being able to identify an animal a lot quicker, and it’s permanent.”

(USDA)

EID Tags

Electronic identification tags contain a unique, scannable microchip that replaces the manual entry of ID numbers when processing cattle. Instant identification of an animal with a scan allows data to sync with management software immediately when compared to handwritten or typed record-keeping.

Lukassen Cattle Co. in Nebraska began incorporating EID tags as traceability and data management became increasingly important for internal decision-making and external market access.

Between their two locations, they calve out around 1,000 Limousin and Angus-based cows.

“We emphasize practical management and long-term sustainability, developing cattle that work in commercial settings while maintaining maternal strength and feed efficiency,” Elyse Lukassen says. “A key part of our operation is delivering all-natural beef directly to consumers, offering true ranch-to-table beef with no added hormones.”

With the size and scope of their operation, using EID tags provides a more efficient and accurate management process.

“The transition to EID tags has supported our participation in value-added programs,” Lukassen says. “Programs like Non-Hormone Treated Cattle (NHTC) and Global Animal Partnership require detailed record-keeping and traceability, and electronic identification helps ensure compliance is both accurate and auditable.”

Like any new technology, there is an upfront investment, both in tags and in the necessary readers and software, Lukassen adds.

“There’s also a learning curve in implementing systems effectively,” she says.

They still use plastic visual-only tags for identification pen-side. Their registered cattle also are tattooed.

Jara Settles, Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) general counsel and vice president of risk mitigation, says large-scale beef and many dairy producers can find benefits in using EID tags in conjunction with management software.

“Scanners in a milking parlor, at the feeding area or integrated with a chute-side system can help them track production traits such as weights, pregnancy status, treatments, vaccinations, etc. This application of the EIDs allows the farmer or rancher to get the most value for those devices as the investment can be spread out over the entire productive life of the animal,” Settles says.

The downside of EID tags is usually cost-related as they’re significantly more expensive than visual-only tags. Settles says many producers do not have the technology necessary to read them or integrate them into their management system.

“From an auction market perspective, the application of EID tags to livestock for sale as mandated by the Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) program is an added cost to the consignor that does not realize any premium or added value,” she adds.

On May 9, 2024, USDA APHIS published into the Federal Register the Final Animal Disease Traceability Rule “ Use of Electronic Identification Eartags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison ” making visually and electronically readable tags the only form of official identification for sexually intact cattle and bison 18 months of age and older, all rodeo, exhibition cattle and dairy cattle moving interstate. That rule became effective Nov. 5, 2024.

“The visual-only tags that were previously allowed under the Animal Disease Traceability program were very inexpensive to purchase and were usually provided free of cost to producers and auction markets by USDA. The transition from visual-only identification for animals currently covered by the ADT program to EID tags increased the cost per tag by as much as nine times,” Settles adds.

Since the transition to EID tags, LMA in coordination with several industry partners has sought funding for these EID tags so that this transition is not an unfunded mandate by the government.

“We have been appreciative of the hard work of livestock champions in D.C. who have ensured farmers, ranchers and livestock auction markets are not unfairly burdened by yet another expense they are unlikely to see benefit from in production. We hope to see continued appropriations of funds to pay for the EID tags for currently covered animals,” Settles says. “LMA would adamantly oppose any expansion of the ADT program to include cattle not currently covered by the program, commonly referred to as feeder cattle.”

SenseHub Tags Are Game Changers in Feedlot Management

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:46:56 GMT

The SenseHub Feedlot system has transformed day-to-day management and production outcomes at Harper Feeders by streamlining health detection and care.

“It’s been a game changer,” says Catherine Harper, a fourth-generation feeder. “Just having that peace of mind, and especially with the labor situation. It just kind of takes that guesswork out of it.”

Started in 1977, Harper Feeders is a family-managed feedlot near Greeley, Colo. The lot’s capacity is about 65,000 sheep and 3,000 cattle. The cattle side began in 2006 to diversify the business, but the Harper family had to adapt as the airborne malignant catarrhal fever from the nearby sheep limited their ability to feed high-risk calves.

Through the years the family has invested heavily in efficiency — upgraded feed systems, handling facilities and data integration — while maintaining a strong focus on low-stress livestock handling and a close-knit, family-centered culture.

(Angie Stump Denton)

Harper explains they installed the SenseHub system in 2024 when they started feeding Kuro cattle — Wagyu × Jersey crosses — for the Meyer Natural program . They bring the Kuro calves in at 500 lb., feed them for 450 to 500 days to a finish weight of 1,400 lb. to 1,500 lb.

“That was what sparked our interest in the SenseHub deal,” she explains. “They’re going to be on feed for a longer period of time, and we wanted to protect ourselves.”

She summarizes SenseHub was a transformative tool for their feedlot, improving health monitoring and operational efficiency.

“It’s catching sickness two to three days sooner than the human eye,” Harper says. “It changed our death loss drastically. Our rates have been way down in comparison to what we’ve had previously.”

An illuminated, flashing ear tag makes it easy for pen riders to find and sort animals that need attention, without disrupting the rest of the pen.

(Merck)

From Startup to Large Scale Adoption

Austin Woltemath, Merck Animal Health beef monitoring sales, says SenseHub Feedlot originated as the brainchild of a startup called Quantified Ag. The system was conceptualized to address the practical needs of feedlot management by leveraging animal data for early disease detection and enhanced operational consistency.

He explains it took several years and multiple tag versions before landing on the just-right formula for scalability and usability in commercial feedlots. The final technology, now available commercially for approximately five years, focuses on continuous, data-driven monitoring of cattle through inner ear canal temperature and activity tracking.

While SenseHub Feedlot can help producers significantly reduce mortality and improve outcomes where it fits, it is not universally suited for all production scenarios, he explains. The system relies on trust in its behavior analysis and machine learning backbone — a predictive technology that leverages vast previous data sets to guide pulling recommendations.

“This enables a direct comparison of each animal’s current health metrics against both their own past performance and those of their pen mates over rolling one- to five-day windows,” he explains.

SenseHub Feedlot had matured into a robust operational tool, widely adopted from small 300-head lots to very large, several-thousand-head feedlots across the U.S. Woltemath emphasizes its particular importance during the first 60 to 100 days of the feeding process — the period of highest risk for animal health challenges.

During this critical window, the system’s daily pull list and integrated pen/animal tracking improve the speed and accuracy of identifying and pulling sick cattle for appropriate treatments, directly correlating to better animal welfare and producer profitability.

Implementing the System

The implementation process of SenseHub Feedlot is designed for flexibility and assurance. Interest typically originates from word-of-mouth recommendations or online resources, and Woltemath’s team conducts personalized meetings to clarify process details and suitability.

He says once a mutual fit is determined, a technical team is dispatched to install hardware and test tag coverage, while a customer success team provides hands-on training.

The Merck team provides ongoing support and troubleshooting.

(Angie Stump Denton)

Stop Sickness: Early, Easy Pulls

Harper says SenseHub alleviates staff workload, especially during peak periods on the sheep side.

“We get so focused on the sheep side,” she explains. “The SenseHub system helps alleviate having to send someone through the cattle pens every day. It just sends us a pull list every morning telling us exactly which lot, which animal, everything based on their tag.”

An illuminated, flashing ear tag makes it easy for pen riders to find and sort animals that need attention, without disrupting the rest of the pen.

Harper says the system integrates with their animal management software.

Woltemath points out built-in treatment protocols within the system.

“Veterinarians can tailor the pull and treatment intervals per animal, ensuring compliance with recommended intervention gaps and reducing the risk of over-pulling or unnecessary treatments,” he explains. “These parameters are customizable and shield animals from repeated inclusion on the pull list based on established guidelines.”

Question No. 1: Return on Investment

Woltemath says one of the persistent concerns among feedlot owners is the return on investment (ROI). He acknowledges quantifying ROI is complicated since every group of cattle is different, and some require more intensive health monitoring than others.

There’s a minimum tag order of 300. Pricing hovers around $15 per head, with exact costs determined by group size and hardware needs. Woltemath stresses this is an estimate, with certain equipment outlays harder to distill on a per-head basis.

The SenseHub system helps alleviate having to send someone through the cattle pens every day. It just sends us a pull list every morning telling the team at Harper Feeders exactly which lot, which animal, everything based on their tag.

(Angie Stump Denton)

Limitations and Opportunities for Improvement

Harper says the system does have a limitation related to long-term tracking and data visibility.

“After 180 days, that tag basically cuts in half in terms of the data it’s reporting,” she explains. “So, on these longer-fed animals, we’ll go for a while without a pull list, and it kind of gets alarming, like maybe your system is offline. That’s been the biggest challenge.”

The tags have a default one-year warranty, though heavy use of the identification light may reduce battery life. Most producers, Woltemath notes, can expect up to two years of reliable use if the light is used conservatively.

Woltemath says the daily pull list also includes tag issue reports and integrates warning alerts about failing or missing tags, empowering producers to address problems with minimal disruption.

Research-Proven Results

Clinical research at an Oklahoma feedyard shows through 60 days on feed and at closeout, the group of animals under the SenseHub Feedlot (SHF) system displayed a significant reduction in mortality and chronic disease compared to the pen-rider (PR) group.

These outcomes led to a significant decrease in cattle falling out of production due to a combination of mortality and chronic disease at either time point in the SHF group, thereby increasing total sellable pounds compared to the PR group. Additionally, the SHF system improved cattle monitoring efficiency compared to the PR group.

Harper summarizes the system is easy to use, adding: “SenseHub is a practical, proven solution that improves health outcomes, increases management efficiency and brings invaluable reassurance to busy feedlot operators.”

Know Your Options for Tagging Cattle

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 15:25:05 GMT

In ranching, doing the little things right can make a big difference. That’s why picking the right ear tags and identification system for your cattle can’t be overlooked. The right tags and identification system improve organization, make data easier to utilize and save time.

“One of the biggest things that we see with our customers is you can’t manage an animal if you don’t have them identified … I think just that good ID system is really a foundation for a good record-keeping system all the way to the top,” says Brittany Kelsey, team leader for CattleTags.com.

Good ID systems will vary from ranch to ranch but at the core, they allow ranchers to easily identify an individual animal in the pasture, identify ownership and access data. All of these are easily attainable once ranchers know their options for tag types, numbering systems and EIDs.

Tag Types and Options

One tag. Two tags. Pink tags. Blue tags. Just how many options are available to ranchers?

Kelsey says, “A lot of ranchers don’t realize the possibilities that they can have with their tags.”

If the possibilities seem endless, where should ranchers start?

“The first thing that we usually visit with our customers about is the size of tag or the animal that they’re going to be putting them in,” explains Kelsey. “Whether you’re tagging calves that are then getting a new tag later on in life or if you’re just tagging mature animals, cows, bulls, that will determine the size of tag you’ll want.”

Other front-end considerations are if this animal is in the herd short-term or long-term. Tagging potential replacement heifers with a permanent-sized tag and unique ID eliminates the step of retagging them later on compared to steers that are on the ranch for less than a year in some cases.
Picking the color of tag is next. This can be a fun step for the younger generation receiving their first cow or calf, but it shouldn’t be a light decision.

“It’s important to pick a color that is easily readable in the field from a distance,” explains Kelsey. “It should also correspond with your operation. For example, we have a lot of producers that might pick blue tags for all their bull calves and pink for all their heifers.”

Different colors can also correspond to different owners or categories of cattle. It’s an easy visual to help differentiate cattle in the field.

Two other considerations are one-piece versus two-piece tags and engraved versus inked numbers.

Kelsey notes, “One unique thing about Allflex tags are that they are laser engraved and then inked over. Those tags are guaranteed to be readable for the life of the animal… blank tags with a marker is fine if it’s a short term use for calves that are getting a new tag when they’re mature or a short term feeder program, but the marker fades.”

And as if there weren’t enough options already, think through how much information you want on the tag. Sky’s the limit with ranchers doing anything from a single ID to adding the sire, dam, brands or even phone numbers to the tags.

Numbering systems

Deciding the type of identification system your operation will use may not sound like the fun part, but it is the most important part of this process if you want a smooth record keeping process year after year.

“Avoiding duplicates is the biggest thing,” says Kelsey. “The number 10 is the same to the computer whether it belongs to the cow, replacement heifer or calf.”

Common numbering systems to avoid duplicates include using an alpha-numeric approach where different letters correspond to different years. Or some ranchers put the last one to two digits of the year on the front of the tag.

For example, cattle born in 2026 would have IDs with the first two digits being 2-6 or 6. Using just a 6 will create duplicates for cows that last 10 plus years in the herd.

She shares, “When you first look at the tag, you want to be able to quickly say in your mind, she’s a five year old…So picking a system that isn’t really complicated matters.”

EIDs and readers

Of course, in 2026 we can’t leave electronic identification devices (EIDs) out of the cattle ID conversation.

“We get a lot of questions about EIDs,” says Kelsey. “It’s not a complicated technology or system. It’s just unfamiliar to a lot of producers.”

The main benefit is reducing risks error.

She explains, “When you’re processing several hundred head through a chute in a day and you’re just recording the visual, there’s room for error for punching in the wrong number.”

EIDs also save time and increase organization. All the data you want tied to your specific animals can be tied back to that individual number.

“One question we get from producers is if they buy cattle from someone else, can they scan the EID to see the animal’s lifetime data,” says Kelsey. “That’s not how that works. The tag doesn’t store the information, the computer system does.”

EIDs also open doors for cattle marketing depending on the value-added program or supply chain producers want to be a part of.

Before purchasing EIDs and a scanner, take into consideration the bigger picture of how you will use this technology.

“With Allflex we have three different readers that go from very basic to ones that are just a little bit more advanced,” says Kelsey. “Just thinking about, am I just wanting to record those numbers and match them with a visual ID as those cows go through the chute and create a list? And then when I go into my management software system, can quickly do a group update using that list of numbers?”

The functionality doesn’t stop there, though.

Kelsey explains, “Some of our EID readers have the capability to scan barcodes, which is a really cool feature for producers that are using the TSU DNA samples.”

Whether you have a current system that needs tweaking or are starting from scratch, remember these considerations before you give cattle their IDs.

Listen to the full conversation on the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast .

The Time Is Now: Let’s Prepare Before ‘It’ Hits

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 12:59:39 GMT

Does your farm or ranch have a plan? Are you ready if there is a foreign animal disease outbreak?

The World Health Organization for Animal Health confirmed outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Germany on Jan. 10, Hungary on March 6 and Slovakia on March 21.

FMD poses no danger to humans, but it is highly contagious. It causes fever and mouth blisters in cloven-hoofed ruminants such as cattle, swine, sheep and goats, and outbreaks often lead to trade restrictions.

If the U.S. has a confirmed case of FMD, every second will matter as the industry tries to control the situation and prevent a catastrophe.

Secure food supply resources have been created by industry experts. These resources can help livestock producers develop plans for the continuity of business, movement and marketing of livestock, milk and wool in the unfortunate event of a foreign disease outbreak.

The use of electronic identification is one of the first steps to help prepare for an outbreak. However, privacy and who has access to data is a question that concerns some producers.

One option for participation is working with a third-party group such as U.S. CattleTrace . On March 13, Drovers reported the partnership between U.S. CattleTrace and Where Food Comes From — “ Smart Partnership Strengthens Traceability .” The two organizations are joining forces to unify and support a voluntary traceability strategy and safeguard the beef supply chain in the event of an outbreak.

The collaboration aims to align resources and expertise, improving disease traceability while maintaining producer-driven decision-making, data privacy and data confidentiality.

U.S. CattleTrace collects four data points: animal identification, date, time and GPS location.

CattleTrace will work with any operation in the supply chain looking to facilitate the flow of data for animal disease traceability purposes. The data collected is securely locked up and only used in the case of a disease outbreak, and no other identifying data is included.

Bottom line: Knowledge and preparedness can help producers develop and put plans in place if a disease outbreak occurs. As an industry, let’s not get caught being unprepared. Now is the time to be proactive, not reactive.

Your Next Read: Stopping Flies in 2025: Tips to Battle These Economic Pests

Beefing Up Marketing: Wagyu Producers Create Authentic Program

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 16:33:15 GMT

Wagyu breeders are known for their strong “gate-to-plate” relationship with consumers and their advanced knowledge of beef quality. Aiming to add more value, document quality and ensure consumer confidence, the American Wagyu Association (AWA) has created an Authentic Wagyu Program including a process verified program (PVP) and a registered grading specification .

“The Certified Wagyu Program was created to combat claims of ‘fake Wagyu’ and ensure authenticity,” explains Sheila Patinkin, a Wagyu breeder from Springfield, Vt.

Patinkin has been raising Wagyu cattle since 2008. She operates a farm-to-table business, selling 80% of her products using e-commerce and distributing the rest to high-end hotels and restaurants. Patinkin has served on the American Wagyu Association (AWA) board since 2020 and was president in 2023 and 2024.

According to Patinkin there have been consumer concerns that some products marketed as Wagyu in the past did not actually meet true Wagyu standards, leading to confusion.

Jerry Cassady, AWA executive vice president, says the two programs were created to assure consumers they are buying the highest quality Wagyu beef and protect the Wagyu name, adding value to Wagyu beef and enhancing the breed. The programs will be accessible to all U.S. Wagyu producers.

“What really separates this PVP from others is the traceability aspect built into the program to assure consumers are getting what they pay extra for,” Cassady says. “When we see Wagyu on the menu consumers expect more and are willing to pay extra for the higher quality. However, with that commitment comes a higher expectation for a memorable eating experience, every time.”

About the program
With the Authentic Wagyu PVP Program, through DNA parentage analysis, each steak will be able to trace back to the animal’s parents. This trace-back feature is offered through the AWA and will guarantee consumers are getting Authentic Wagyu.

The PVP program was developed first to verify the breed composition, production processes and quality attributes of Wagyu beef. It involves a rigorous USDA audit and certification process.

Cassady explains the G162 spec, which requires a minimum marbling score of 800 (slightly above the bottom of the USDA Prime grade), was developed to help the association pass the PVP audit.

“Now that the spec is in place, it provides a simpler pathway for producers to participate in a USDA-Certified Wagyu Meat program, even if they don’t want to go through the full PVP process,” he says. “For example, if steaks are advertised as 100% full-blood Wagyu, through the parentage trace-back feature, consumers will have the confidence to know they are truly getting 100% full-blood Wagyu.”

Wagyu breeders can now enroll in the Authentic Wagyu PVP program.

(Photo provided by Sheila Patinkin. Sample label provided by AWA.)

How to participate
To participate in the G-spec program, interested producers will need to sign licensing agreements assuring specifications are being met. The cost will be $2 per carcass. Interested processors will need to sign licensing agreements assuring specifications are being followed. Processor fees will be $5 per carcass.

Ginette Gottswiller worked with the AWA board and Cassady to create the PVP and G-spec. She explains to participate in the PVP, producers must enroll three months prior to harvest. The enrollment cost is $50 per head, which covers the cost of the DNA test and RFID tag.

To start the process, a producer completes the enrollment form and sends it back to the AWA office along with copies of calving records for each group being enrolled. Trained staff will go through an enrollment and training interview with the producer. During the training it will be determined if the producer is feeding out their own cattle or if they are going to another location for the feeding phase.

Producers will be asked what processing plant they plan to use and determine if the plant needs to become remote grade certified. If the plant is not remote grade certified they can accomplish this task within the three-month enrollment lead time.

Once a producer completes the paperwork and interview process, they will be issued an RFID ear tag or RFID ear tag/TSU combo to denote the cattle have completed the first step in the enrollment process. Currently the RFID tags must be sold and shipped in multiples of 50 RFID tags or RFID/TSU combo sets. Tags will be shipped directly to the producer.

Producers will sign an enrollment form, which is an affidavit following procedure and protocol, and agree to allow an AWA/USDA audit at any time and any resulting data can be utilized by AWA.

The feedlot or farmer feeder portion of the PVP process will ensure the animals enrolled maintain their identification through the feeding phase. The feedyard portion of the program requires enrollment and training on a yearly basis provided by the AWA staff. The training instructs the feedyard manager through the required paperwork from receiving cattle into the yard to the animal’s arrival at the processing facility.

A feedyard is the cattle’s location from approximately 650 lb. until they reach harvest weight. This could be at the producer location or another entity that feeds cattle from more than one producer. The person or entity that manages and feeds the cattle on a day-to-day basis is who will be trained for the feedyard program within the PVP.

The processing plant enrollment will need to be done once the plant is remote grade certified. The first enrollment for every plant will be an on-site certification by AWA staff. Additionally, the plant will be trained by the DNA Traceback PVP Lab to take samples from randomly selected producer’s finished meat products for the traceability portion of the PVP.

1 of 2:

New programs will allow Wagyu breeders to differentiate their products.

Shelia Patinkin, Vermont Wagyu

2 of 2:

New programs will allow Wagyu breeders to differentiate their products.

Shelia Patinkin, Vermont Wagyu

Adding value
Cassady summarizes for producers these programs offer an opportunity to differentiate and add value to their Wagyu and Wagyu-influenced cattle. Producers can market calves as potential candidates for the programs, highlighting their genetic potential. Those who fully qualify can then sell their beef with the verified Authentic Wagyu certification, assuring consumers of the authenticity and quality.

“My vision is for producers, processors and packers alike to recognize the importance of assured quality sourced from known ranches right here in the U.S.,” Cassady says. “With this assurance they will recognize the value of the program and be willing to pay a premium for those who enroll in the program.”

From the consumer perspective, the programs are designed to build trust and confidence.

“A key challenge we have faced is effectively communicating the differences between full-blood, purebred and percentage Wagyu to consumers,” Patinkin says. “The technical definitions can be complex, but establishing clear authenticity claims is crucial to rebuilding trust in the U.S. Wagyu market.”

Gottswiller says although many Wagyu producers have already developed their own direct-to-consumer marketing channels, the new certification programs can still benefit them by adding an extra layer of quality and authenticity claims.

Patinkin says she feels optimistic about the potential for the program to gain traction, driven by increased consumer awareness and growing foreign competition.

“The program’s focus on traceability and quality will help Wagyu producers differentiate their products and command premium prices,” she says.

To learn more about the Authentic Wagyu Programs, visit wagyu.org/for-producers/authentic-wagyu-pvp .

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Smart Partnership Strengthens Disease Traceability

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 16:12:32 GMT

The beef industry is a complex network of stakeholders — seedstock producers, cow-calf operations, stockers, feedlots and packers. With this segmentation comes a challenge: being prepared to act swiftly and effectively if a highly contagious disease like Foot and Mouth Disease strikes.

To amplify traceability efforts U.S. CattleTrace is now partnering with Where Food Comes From . The collaboration aims to align resources and expertise improving disease traceability while maintaining producer-driven decision making, data privacy and data confidentiality.

“This partnership is a collaborative effort to strengthen traceability and enhance the tools available to producers,” says Callahan Grund, U.S. CattleTrace executive director.

U.S. CattleTrace was founded as a voluntary, producer-driven, private-industry, confidential traceability system designed to provide rapid contact tracing. By collecting four key data points — animal identification, date, time and GPS location — the system builds a critical infrastructure for disease response and containment.

Participation is simple for producers. For ranches, backgrounders or stockers, the start is tagging with an RFID tag. Once cattle leave the ranch of origin, U.S. CattleTrace aims to trace an animal through its life cycle at any point of commerce or comingling in the beef supply chain.

U.S. CattleTrace is a hands-free, speed of commerce contact tracing system for animal disease traceability. Utilizing primarily RFID technology, the system collects a minimal four data points any animal that passes through a reader at a facility that works with U.S. CattleTrace.

(U.S. CattleTrace)

U.S. CattleTrace will work with any operation in the supply chain looking to facilitate the flow of data for animal disease traceability purposes. The system collects only those four data points on any animal that passes through a reader at a facility working with U.S. CattleTrace. The data collected is securely locked up and only utilized in the case of a disease outbreak and no other identifying data is included.

“The need for the industry to unite around one effort to accomplish animal disease traceability is paramount to achieving a nationally significant contact tracing program,” says Joe Leathers, 6666 Ranch general manager and U.S. CattleTrace board chairman. “With Where Food Comes From’s long-time leadership within the cattle industry, I’m excited to see the progress we can make together in advancing this important initiative.”

IMI Global , a division of Where Food Comes From, has been providing verification solutions for the beef industry since 1995 ensuring transparency in labeling claims and adding value with product differentiation and market access domestically and internationally.

Highlighting the synergy of the partnership, Leann Saunders, COO and co-founder of Where Food Comes From, explains, “Whether verifying environmental and animal raising claims or tracing cattle movements, the common denominator is animal identification and traceability. Our hope is to reduce duplication for customers that wish to support both efforts, though it remains optional for all Where Food Comes From customers.”

Where Food Comes From will administer the technical aspects of U.S. CattleTrace’s mission while keeping key decisions in the hands of its leadership and board.

“The partnership comes at pivotal moment. We’ve seen the disruption disease outbreaks can cause. Being proactive with traceability is essential to securing the future of the beef industry,” adds John Saunders, Where Food Comes From CEO.

The collaboration helps position the industry to maintain high biosecurity standards, which will be crucial in safeguarding the long-term sustainability of beef production.

“Disease traceability isn’t just a precaution, it’s a proactive strategy for securing the industry’s future,” Grund says. “By participating, producers will not only protect their operations but also contribute to a stronger, more resilient beef supply chain.”

Your Next Read: Foot And Mouth Disease: Producers Should Be Prepared

APHIS Aims to Bust Seven Myths Regarding Animal Disease Traceability

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 18:29:00 GMT

In April, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the final rule that amends and strengthens its animal disease traceability regulations for certain cattle and bison. This rule will come into effect on Nov. 5, 2024.

The rule requires official eartags to be visually and electronically readable for official use for interstate movement of certain cattle and bison. It also revises and clarifies certain record requirements related to cattle.

APHIS has received many questions from producers and created a fact sheet to clarify the new rule:

MYTH: There is a shortage of electronic identification (EID) eartags.
FACT: There are no manufacturers’ shortages. Manufacturing and shipping capacity is adequate for the projected number of cattle requiring official identification for interstate movement. APHIS distributed tags based on 2022 National Agricultural Statistics Service Census of Agriculture data on cattle and bison population numbers. The allocation of 8 million EID tags was separated out to allow all States to order tags in an amount equal to their cattle population percentage.

MYTH: Even if they don’t currently require an EID tag, I should tag all my animals now since EID tags will eventually be required anyways.
FACT: Producers should only tag animals that are subject to the 2024 rule when using the EID tags provided at no cost by USDA. Tagging animals that are not subject to the rule with USDA-provided tags may lead to shortages of those tags. Owners who wish to tag all their animals may purchase at their own expense additional EID tags directly from a manufacturer or distributor.

MYTH: All my animals require an EID tag, including those with a visual eartag that was applied before Nov. 5, 2024. FACT: The rule applies only to the interstate movement of the following categories of cattle and bison:

All sexually intact cattle and bison 18 months of age or older.
All dairy cattle of any age
All cattle and bison of any age used for rodeo, exhibition, or recreational events

If your animal has a visual only official identification tag applied prior to Nov. 5, 2024, you are not required to apply an electronically readable tag to the animal. All visual-only official identification tags applied to cattle and bison prior to the date the rule is effective will be considered official identification for the lifetime of the animal.

MYTH: I have to use a specific type of EID tag, and I must use a specific color in certain cases. For example, I have to use an orange tag for brucellosis vaccinates.
FACT: Owners can use, and States may distribute, any type or color of officially recognized EID tag that is available. The regulations do not require orange tags for brucellosis vaccinates. APHIS will attempt to meet owner’s preferences; however, we cannot guarantee the availability of a certain EID tag make or color.

MYTH: My animals were previously tagged with a specific colored tag. I’ll need to get new tags in a different color for a new purpose.
FACT: An animal with an official ID of any type or color does not need to be retagged for any reason.

MYTH: My data isn’t safe. EID tags hold owner specific information. Even if APHIS and State animal disease traceability databases are not public databases, all Federal and State officials will have access to my information.
FACT: Producer data confidentiality is highly valued and protected by law. An EID tag is encoded with a number, but no owner-specific information. The USDA database collects only the tag number and refers back to a premises ID number. The database does not collect names, addresses, or other personal information. Access to identifying information is limited ONLY to Federal, State, and/or Tribal regulatory officials who meet strict permissions and security requirements AND need to conduct disease tracing activities. State animal health officials only have access to information held within their own states. Producer information gathered by USDA through animal disease traceability efforts is treated as information maintained under existing disease program regulations and, therefore, is exempt from provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

MYTH: On Nov. 5, 2024, APHIS will implement a new way of enforcing requirements with stricter penalties for violations.
FACT: The rule did not change how APHIS will monitor compliance. It did not change penalties for violations. Contact your State veterinarian for guidance if you are unable to meet the compliance requirements by Nov. 5, 2024.

You can find more information about the animal disease traceability program on the APHIS website .

Email questions to traceability@usda.gov.

You can also contact your State animal health official to learn more about your State’s traceability activities and requirements.

Carl Ray Polk Jr: The Truth About Traceability

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 19:48:18 GMT

Ranching is something to be proud of. It’s a tradition and foundation that roots us in hard work. Time and sweat invested today keeps this way of life alive for tomorrow. This is what I love and what I want to pass to the next generation – but that reality is fragile. A single animal disease outbreak could erase this for not only myself but future generations.

Protecting ourselves is paramount. A core pillar of preventing a detrimental animal disease outbreak is a traceability program that operates at the speed of commerce. We need a traceability program that allows for rapid response in the event of an outbreak and minimizes disruption to the industry.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) final rule for an animal disease traceability program is set to begin November 5. Livestock producers will be required to implement tags that are both visibly and electronically readable for specific classes of cattle.

Understandably, many cattle raisers are approaching these new regulations with caution. However, it’s important to put rumors fueled by cattle market commentary videos aside and set the record straight. The rule will not track your financials or your greenhouse gas emissions. The rule was not created to place additional taxes on your operation. Tags do not have GPS.

USDA’s animal disease traceability rule modernizes a decade-old regulation that required metal clip tags for brucellosis vaccination or tuberculosis testing for specific classes of livestock crossing state lines. If you were not required to have a metal clip tag before, you will not be impacted by the new electronic tag now. Only sexually intact cattle over 18 months old, all female dairy cattle, male dairy cattle born after March 11, 2013, and all cattle used in rodeo, shows or exhibitions will be required to comply.

We share many of the concerns of cattle raisers across the nation. While Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association supports a traceability program and believes it can protect the industry, the program should never compromise the data privacy of our members. The program should work for the industry, not against it.

The current USDA animal disease traceability plan does not fully align with our expectations for data handling and storage. While USDA has assured the industry that data is not publicly available and that steps are in place to restrict access to authorized government officials working on high-impact animal diseases, we are demanding more.

The responsibility for data management should not lie within USDA. Instead, we advocate for a more decentralized approach where the industry has a significant role in managing and protecting its own data. This can be through third-party groups like U.S. CattleTrace, which Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association has been a member of since inception. A third party would limit government access to data, releasing only necessary data when and if an animal disease outbreak were to occur. This infrastructure has already been developed, tested and is ready to deploy. There is absolutely no reason to spend valuable time and money within USDA recreating the wheel.

We do not take the threat of a disease outbreak lightly given the spanning geography and rapid speed that our industry operates. This is why for decades we have joined other industry partners to participate in conversations about a traceability plan and process that works for all of us. However, our time is up, and the industry’s failure to agree and enact an appropriate program has created an opportunity for the government to come in and attempt to fix the problem.

Consistently opposing new traceability measures without proposing viable alternatives does not contribute to solving the broader issue of disease prevention and management. Those who are screaming the loudest about USDA’s current traceability plan and who have consistently stood in the way of industry creating our own solution need only to look in the mirror as to the reason why we are where we are today.

The choice is ours: be part of the solution or be willing to accept the consequences. We at TSCRA will continue to look for solutions.

TSCRA Hosts Educational Webinar About USDA's Final Animal Disease Traceability Rule

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 15:47:49 GMT

The Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association will host an educational webinar Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. to discuss the newly finalized animal disease traceability rule.

Featuring a panel of livestock industry experts and cattle raisers, the webinar will answer important questions about requirements for electronic identification of various classes of beef and dairy cattle in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) final rule for animal disease traceability that goes into effect Nov. 5.

Topics to be discussed include:

Impacted classes of livestock
Electronic identification tag requirements
Industry responsibilities for implementation
Data and program security
Resources for cattle raisers including how to access free tags

Panelists include Dr. Alex Turner, USDA APHIS Veterinary Services, director of national animal disease traceability; Austin Brown III, Brown Land & Cattle LLC, Beeville; Sigrid Johannes, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, senior director, government affairs; and Ken Jordan, Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba.

The webinar is open to the public. To RSVP, tscra.org/upcoming-livestock-electronic-tagging-requirements-webinar/ .