RFID report card

[SADIE]

Today's article in the Regina Leader Post. Saskatchewan's new ag minister m<a href="http://s1138.photobucket.com/albums/n523/kphaber/?action=view&current=img397.jpg" target="_blank"></a>akes announcement.

[PAMI]

The "five province" study mentioned in the posted article is only one of many research projects underway that hope to improve the tag retention issue. The five province study is being done by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in collaboration with the Western Beef Development Centre. They selected several herds in each province and tagged several types of animals with all types of approved tags. They'll monitor the retention and take note of the different management practices at each farm (i.e.: twine removal, metal vs wood corrals, type of headgate, etc).

PAMI (Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute) in Humboldt, SK is also working on a project to help improve tag retention (funded by SK Ministry of Ag). PAMI will measure tag variability (pin length, pull apart strength, insertion force) for all approved tags at a variety of operating temperatures (-40 C to 30 C). Based on those results and a review of the design of various tags, a new tag design or placement might be defined. The new design, placement, or tagging protocols will be tested by tagging calves (10 per "treatment") and monitoring for one full year (starting in Spring 2013).

PAMI will ensure all information gained from the study is public and will present the results at various trade shows and field days.

So the research community was slow on the update, but hopefully we can help improve tag retention and reduce the frustration (and cost) associated with this voluntary program.

[grassfarmer]

But lets not pretend the tags we are using now are
untested because they aren't. There was an approval
process for the different makes of tag based on
retention rates before RFID tags were introduced
initially.

[PAMI]

Grassfarmer, you are absolutely correct.

According to the CCIA, before a tag is approved for use it must pass a test and achieve a 99% retention rate in 1,500 animals for at least 90 days. The CCIA also established standards for the insertion force required to clamp the tag as well as a standard stem break force. Audits are conducted to determine if tags continue to work as well as they did at the time they were approved. If a tag fails the audit, the manufacturer of the tag must remedy the deficiency or the tag will no longer be approved for use.

While CCIA tests tag retention over a wide range of high and low temperatures, the material in some tags seem too light to stand up to sun, temperature, and typical rangeland conditions. During the retention trials, tags are applied under controlled conditions, which can result in inflated retention rates. Finally, there does not appear to be a standard for stem length or the thickness of the back, both of which can affect placement and retention.

The PAMI study hopes to assess retention rates using "real world" scenarios to determine if modifying application protocols or tag design can improve retention rates. We will also be monitoring tag retention for MORE than 90 days (which is more realistic for actual use).

[kato]

90 days? That explains a lot. Feedlot tags would pass that test. Likely ribbons on their tails would too.

[SADIE]

PAMI

Thankyou for coming about this thread and offering your input.

My concern from the beginning was the retention rate in the adult bovine animal not the young calf.

The anatomy and proceedure of application in a fresh calf's ear on tag application is much different than the anatomy and proceedure in placement of an adult cow and bulls ear. Thickness of cartilage alone, retraint especially on re-tagging and animals having previous experience.

At any of the upcoming research has there been utilization of animal behavior personnel in the upcoming studies? Specifically as one looks at re-tagging process in cows and bulls?

Dr. Joe Stookey is on WCVM staff and close to the research farm at Turmunde (If that is one of your working sites).

My 48 months of gathered research on tagging and retagging with RFID eartags have revealed best useage of the current tag is a "SHORT-TERM" tag.

As a cow-calf producer how do you think some of us feel towards CCIA organization now and going forward when cow-calf producers struggled with using this "short-term" tag in ones cow-herd.

Cows in herds that had to go into inter-mingling pastures for summer breeding saw the biggest impact of "retention loss" and re-tagging. Defending oneself against animal health laws like section 176 came into play.

Has the CCIA got any credability left with some grass roots cow-calf producers?

[kato]

I've been thinking about all this, and came up with an idea.

Right now the Alberta government gives everyone their first tags for free. Then you're on your own. I say that is backwards. And since the other provinces are being cheapskates, it's not doing anything to make this a level playing field between provinces.

I don't mind buying the first tags. What I mind is the replacement tags.

What if the feds were to step up and do the right thing and make this tag thing a federal responsibility instead of letting provinces create uneven rules.

I say that we all buy the first tag. Then every time we replace one, we go to the CCIA database, cross reference the tag, and comment "replacement for lost tag". Or they could create a button to click, which would make more sense.

At the end of the year, all the entries which are for replacement tags should be flagged, and there should be a cheque in the mail for at least $3.50 per tag. They have the information already. They know where we live. It would only take a bit of program tweaking to make it work.

Then they would also know the true cost of this retagging, and maybe would even do something to help solve the problem.

Just an idea. What does everyone else think?

[SADIE]

PAMI---understanding the long history of the eartag business to some extend. Is there any work being done on a tag that is different that the present "ALLFLEX SYSTEM". The real problem on evidence gathered from producers, and veterinarians that were in practice alot of years is the Male Plastic back area where the plastic covers the steel washer. I agree the stems and length variance can and does play a factor but the backs is where the real loss appears to be.


Kato--your idea is good but somehow we have to try to get something with a longer factor "expectation". That still doesn't solve the retagging and the animal behavior problem that both you and I and some others have experienced.

I admire you dedication of re-tagging your cows but I don't want to be put in a position that it becomes immediately mandatory to retag and animal if a RFID tag is lost and the animal is not leaving the premise of origin.

Each year I up to this time all the cow herd started with an RFID eartag because they were all bought as bred heifers. Many have lost their original tag and only the cows going into PFRA pastures this year had to be verified they are bearing a RFID tag and if not we replaced only those going to the PFRA pastures. The ones staying home (half the herd) we don't worry or even touch their ears right now.

Back to the tractor ---thought process continues better sitting on a tractor.