Hand Held RFID reader

[Eastcoaster]

Has anyone have any experience with handheld ear tag readers. Looking for information on what reader would be good for a small cow calf operation doing the reading in a chute one animal at a time. Which ones are workable and not too expensive?

[aggie]

check our Bio Beef - at biobeef.com - they have a number of software/reader options..

[grassfarmer]

If it's a small cow/calf operation why do you feel the
need to invest in this technology?

[Eastcoaster]

Even with a small herd I find it difficult to read the number. With the hair in the way, the number never orientated so it is upright to read, swinging their head and such. I am using it as a back-up to lost management tags. Do you people have as much trouble as I do retaining tags in the cows? Over the last few years, probably 60-70% have lost their tag. Some have an RFID tag so using it for reference. Loosing the RFID tag as well on some. I put them (RFID) in as calves and retaining some for reeplacement hiefers and some for beef to be sold through Farmers Market so they have to last awhile. Must admit I have been slack on keeping things up to date on a yearly rate. At the present our provincial government is tying some of our programs to being enrolled in a herd magement program and so now trying to catch up with my ID's.

[countryguy]

Another affordable and effective back up tag you could use are the metal Ketchum clips. As long as they are applied properly they will be there for the life of the cow.

[15444]

I think there are quite a few on here that have some pretty good losses on the RFID tags. I have taken pictures in the past of previous owners tags that crack and broke into pieces.

That's why nothing here gets a RFID tag until it leaves the place for good. Pay for the tags and my time, every time, and I'll be happy to put your sub-par tags in.

Unless you have government money paying for the reader, I wouldn't buy one. UHF technology will replace RFID technology soon enough. CCIA just happens to live in a different era and doesn't adapt well to technology.

[tweaker101]

I agree with 15444 we don't put on any RFID tags until they are going on the one way trip, used to put the tags on at birth but discovered many were lost and had to re tag later. I think that there is some money available from the feds to buy the RFID reader which would be kinda neat..you could couple it to a scale/reader pannel and wham bam you could enter all your info into the magic box and then down load to your laptop at least thats what the dude selling the scale says.

[smcgrath76]

I have an Agrident reader on a Psion
Workabout Pro. Not cheap, but built the
original one myself with parts from ebay
and the commercial reader card. I am
working with a company right now to get
workable cow/calf software on the
reader. You basically use it, then sit
it in the dock and don't have to enter
anything into the computer.
We use the metal tags in our cows as a
permanent backup identification.
UHF technology may be less expensive,
but it's read range is too long for
practical application in the chute. It
will be interesting to see where the
technology falls out in the end.

[kato]

I know there was a program where they paid for half of it, but I think it was just for vet clinics and commercial feedlots etc.. Not for the like of us. We riff raff are on our own. Unless we want to sign up for the Verified Beef program, and then they will help with the cost. We personally still can't decide if it's worth the hassle to sign up for VBP, since we haven't seen a financial gain by doing it.

It would be nice to have a reader, but we'd rather spend the money on a scale. Maybe some day after we get one of those, we'll look at readers.

[grassfarmer]

Try the Z-Tag RFID tags and applicator - they are just
outstanding. We weren't suffering many losses with
the Allflex previously but when I saw the Z-Tag pliers
I knew that was the way to go. They are spring loaded
so put the tag in with the right pressure each time
and no rips or tears.

[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.