Reading Time: 3 minutes Beef-on-dairy calves have DairyTrace tags, not CCIA yellow tags. Does that make a difference at auction?
Are white ear tags shortchanging beef-on-dairy calves?
Beef-on-dairy calves have DairyTrace tags, not CCIA yellow tags. Does that make a difference at auction?
Best practices at tagging time easiest way to not lose them
Tags that go into cattle’s ears properly are more likely to stay there and not cause problems with traceability
Reading Time: 2 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) has launched a new campaign to provide more information to farmers on how to retain tags on cattle. The challenge with cattle tagging is that at some point in their life, they can lose their iconic yellow button tags, and that’s a problem for the traceability […] Read more
PigTrace tag prices go up Dec. 15
Program costs 'unsustainable' without price increase
One of the prices producers pay for hog traceability will be going up 10 per cent. The Manitoba Pork Council said in a notice to producers Wednesday that the Canadian Pork Council will apply a 10 per cent increase to the prices of PigTrace ear tags and accessories, effective Dec. 15. Table: PigTrace ear tag […] Read more
The door is opening for UHF livestock tags
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency has launched an initiative that links non-approved Ultra High Frequency (UHF) secondary tags to agency approved tags in the Canadian Livestock Tracking System database. “This is a positive step forward in supporting UHF currently being used for management purposes and in some cases, it will facilitate cattle exports and provide […] Read more
Cattle producers may be putting the pedal to the metal with new ear tags
Lost ear tags are a perennial complaint but now a metal version made in the U.K. is available
Reading Time: 2 minutes Lost ear tags are a perennial source of frustration for cattle producers but the agency that approves and sells tags is now selling one it says is more durable. “Yes, you’ve heard right. Metal. RFID. Approved,” Canadian Cattle Identification Agency tweeted last month when announcing it would be selling “the first of its kind” tag. […] Read more
Co-op’s pilot paves the way for identifying feeders with RFID tags
Feeders have another option to branding after pilot shows reading pages is ‘reliable and sustainable’
Reading Time: 2 minutes Feeder associations can now trace their livestock via RFID tags thanks to a pilot project conducted by the Picture Butte Feeder Co-operative. Provincial regulations were recently amended so radio frequency identification tags are now an approved method of identifying cattle in addition to branding. The change comes in the wake of a successful pilot project […] Read more
Is there really any need to brand cattle anymore?
The reasons have largely disappeared
Reading Time: 4 minutes I hope everyone will seriously question if we need to brand — and if we do, how best to do it. I have heard several veterinarians and animal welfare scientists discuss if branding in its original form is even needed today. Lots has changed from the days of the wide-open range where cattle were mixed […] Read more
Tags for imported U.S. feeder cattle
Reading Time: < 1 minute On April 1, all feeder cattle imported from the U.S. will be required to be identified with the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) compliant 840 radio frequency ear tags — matching the rule for breeding cattle implemented a year ago. The 840 tag is an electronic ear tag of either half-duplex or full-duplex frequency. It […] Read more
Canada’s PSP buys stake in tag maker Allflex
Reuters — PSP Investments, one of Canada’s biggest pension funds, said Friday it had acquired a significant minority stake in Allflex Group, the world’s biggest maker of electronic tags for animals, from private equity firm BC Partners. The purchase was overseen by PSP’s new team in London, led by Simon Marc, and is likely to […] Read more
Will the cows of tomorrow all be wearing fitness trackers?
Devices that measure activity levels can be used to tell if cattle are feeling poorly — but there are still some kinks to be worked out
Reading Time: 2 minutes Fitness trackers are all the rage among people these days — but they could catch on with cows, too. But the idea isn’t to start counting cow steps or to up bovine fitness levels. Rather, the goal is to use fitness monitors as a way to detect illness in beef cattle early on. Cattle producers […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
