Agricultural News
One Perspective on Animal ID and the Moving of the Cattle Industry Toward Electronic Ear Tags
Thu, 29 Aug 2019 06:20:06 CDT
The debate within the beef cattle industry continues over what should animal ID requirements look like for producers. OSU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist and Verterinarian Dr. Rosslyn Biggs says animal disease traceback is an important part of that conversation- with the side benefit of allowing producers to better manage their animals and know how they are performing further down the beef pipeline from their ranch operation.
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farrm Director Ron Hays recently sat down with Dr. Biggs at Oklahoma State University's Center for Veterinary Health Services where she is serving as the Director for Continuing Education as well as holding the position as an Extension Beef Cattle Specialist as well. One of the topics they discussed and is featured today in this Beef Buzz is Animal Disease Traceback- and one of the newest tools available for cattle producers to do a better job of tracking their animals.
Dr. Biggs says she recently had the chance to spend some time at Buffalo Feeders in northwest Oklahoma, where Tom Fanning is utilizing ultra high frequency ear tags to help track animals in his feedlot. Dr. Biggs says this newer technology will allow cattle producers the ability to scan those tags and gather information on those cattle more easily. She says the advantage versus low frequency tags that have been around for years is the opportunity to grab that information as a calf moves down a alleyway instead of having to get within a couple of feet to "wand" that animal.
As for the value of moving over to electronic ear tags- something that USDA is promoting- She says "the value I see from a producer stand point is my records." She adds that for a smaller cattle operation, perhaps run by a producer that also is holding down an outside job, the advantage is for an electronic tag incorporating management tools within the data that can move with the animal during his or her lifetime.
You can listen to Dr. Biggs and Hays talk animal ID and the animla disease traceback on today's Beef Buzz.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
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