Hand Held RFID reader

[smcgrath76]

kato - we are on VBP but here you just
had to take the training and you were
qualified under growing forward for any
grant money.
If you are looking for scales, try
kijiji. We just bought a legal for
trade 8 x 14 Norac with a new deck in it
for 1/2 of new. It doesn't qualify for
a grant since its not new but it is
still a better deal.
GF - we agree on something. The Ztags
are good (LOL).

[ALLFARMER]

I agree with countryguy google ketchum tags. I
don't use ketchum tags yet but plan too. We
loose dangle tags here and RFID. I don't install
RFID tags until just prior to shipping. If cows flop
their head around when in the squeeze use a
rope to tie her still, but my squeeze has the neck
extender so maybe that makes it easier for me.
Just my 2 cents worth.

[kato]

I took the training. It wasn't hard. I could have taught it. I'll check it out. Manitoba's programs are never as good as Alberta's though, but you never know...

[kato]

Nope. Manitoba requires you to take the course, pay for an audit, and sign up, or else you get zip.

[smcgrath76]

but your budget is balanced...
The reason we went to a more impressive
reader was that I struggled to see what I
would do with a list of eartags, and
nothing more. I will have to post a pic
of what we use.

[SADIE]

eastcoaster---Time to respond to your thread. Using your RFID tag with the 15 digit nos as an ID is what I wanted to do with my cow-herd identification back in 2006 & 2007. Until permanent ID is achieved (reliable ID that stays on the animal)---forget about it.

Like already has been posted. Gone back to Ketchum #2 Curlock metal tag for individual ID. Only apply the RFID tag when selling animal. Better yet make arrangements for the Auction Market personnel to apply the RFID ear-tag so that there is now "0" slippage.

Some arrangements have been made at a deductable price of application fee. By doing this you have freed yourself up of any potential RFID eartag audit as well.

I reposted the CFIA laws regarding eartags that are presently enforce at this time on this post as well.

<a href="http://s1138.photobucket.com/albums/n523/kphaber/?action=view&current=img059.jpg" target="_blank"></a>

[grassfarmer]

How much does your local auction charge for
tagging SADIE? Not sure what they are here
currently but know they are quite a bit higher than
they started off doing it for - maybe $10 a head? I
know mature bulls are substantially more than other
categories.
I find it quite easy to preserve identities - stick the
little sticker that comes with the tags into my
calving book on the appropriate line where the cow
#/ date of birth/breed/sex goes. I'm still using what
was originally my Dad's calving book started in
1960. Works as good now as it did back then, no
hand held RFID reader just a pen and paper system.
Haven't lost an RFID tag off last years calf crop, lost
one from the previous year so we are maybe
running 1/3 of 1 % tag loss.

[SADIE]

This comes from two former clients of mine in East Central Alberta. One ranch lines up with the auction market on entire group of calves. They do the work, purchase the tags and are in order @ $4.00/head. The only thing that has a tag when it comes on that ranch is the bulls they purchase.

Individual adult animals are the $10.00 to $20.00 range.

The other contact I know has a deal at his market in Alberta @ $3.00 /head application on top of the purchase of the RFID eartag.

In Saskatchewan where there is "minmal age verification" and there is "0" payment for the RFID eartags. More and more reports of producers phoning the Tag companies---One in particular complaining about the "broken backs" and receiving large nos of replacement RFID eartags.

"THE GONG SHOW CONTINUES"

At the start of 2011 CCIA chairman asked for "deregestering lost RFID eartags"-----.

The attempt to follow the lifecycle of each RFID eartag.

Good luck with that one.