CCIA news

[kato]

Got a newsletter at work today from the CCIA.

It states that when the new electronic tags are on line, that we will be able to record birthdates for each animal. That way, they can be scanned at the auction mart, or packer, and there will be no more speculation on whether or not they are under 30 months. Their ages will pop up with the numbers, I would assume. At least I hope that's the way it will work.

They also say this system will enable tracing of an animal's movement all through the chain from farm to packer. Some may not like that, but I sure would be a good way to open up markets.

[cakadu]

Kato, it is likely going to be one of the few ways to do business in the future. Being able to trace back and know where the animal you are eating came from. These sorts of systems have been around for about 7 or more years over in the EU, so it was just a matter of time before they got here.

The more information we can provide to let people know about our products, the better. There isn't anything to hide.

[rusty1]

All the CCIA is doing is adding a data base field to their system to carry birth dates. The only way to get that piece of data into the data base is to record it into a third party software that interfaces with the CCIA. There currently is no auction marts with software that is capable of recording RFID and producing "popup" data, and I don't think that we want CCIA (govt) in the business of carring production records.
There is good third party software around to do that at all levels.

[kato]

Right now, when we sell tags at the clinic I work in, we input the numbers directly into the CCIA database. This thing is fast, and very accurate. If we make a typo and enter a number that is not listed as being assigned to us, it tells us right away.

All that would be required would be for producers to have access codes and pin numbers to see their assigned tags. The system already knows who has what tags. They could input the dates themselves. Either that, or they could mail them in.

I don't think it would be a big problem, if it was set up simply.

[grassfarmer]

One point I should bring up here - these are good systems - if everyone in the business is honest. I hope everyone here is honest they certainly weren't in Europe! We finished up with the brilliant but cumbersome and expensive passport system there because a small minority were cheating.
The 30 month rule is the obvious starting point - I would assume at some point if the feedlots are getting penalised by the packers for over 30 month cattle turning up they will want an assurance that the cattle they buy from cow/calf men have a valid date of birth. The dentition system is a joke, it is nothing like accurate enough. Some operators in the UK started practising some "amateur dentistry" to make cattle appear younger than they really were because they were desperate and the stakes were high. If we dismiss the dentition test as inaccurate are we taking the BSE precautions seriously enough if we then allow someone to claim their animal is under 30 months despite it having extra teeth without having independantly verified proof?

Moving onto eartags linked to dates of birth - also cheatable. If you have a of 29 month charolais steers that needs a bit more time to fatten (a runt calf) the eartag can be switched with that of a 18 month old healthy steer. I deplore these methods but be warned they can happen - as soon as there is a sufficient price differential between discounted 30 month cattle and younger animals. It infuriates me to know that the people that did this (mainly cattle dealers) really prospered and got ahead as a result and I would hate to see that happen here.

[carebear300]

The worst part of this whole scenario is that the honest person will keep doing things the right and honourable way and the unscrupulous people involved in this industry will keep taking advantage of the system just like before. Once again I wish I could be more optomistic but human nature will not change no matter how many rules and regulations are enacted. Sad part is that the average honest person will have to go through all the extra work for basically nothing!!!

[rusty1]

Good points about credibility and verification. A couple of comments the RFID tags that are being used are "tamper evident". Therefore if someone want to remove the tag and apply it to another calf if vertually imposible without destroying it. If it is possible at least it is evident to the eye that it has been damage.
It is going to be necessay to re-enstate the laws of the old west. Any body trying to beat the system will find himself on the end of a rope.:-)
Or at least lose his dealers licence for life.
We may be moving to implants as well, which will make it harder to fool with. The USDA has already approved one companies implant which will also transmit the temperature of the animal.
As far as birth dates are concerned, the high and medium frequency tags which the CFIA wants to impliment are "Read/writeable" can have the birth date written to the tag and locked. Thefore the tag applicator/reader records the data which can then be interfaced with the CCIA data base or many third party programs for vertical integration.

[kato]

How do you write to the tag? If it can be done on the farm, that's OK, but if it has to be done elsewhere, that could be cumbersome.

[grassfarmer]

Lots of tags are sold as "tamper evident" which is great but if someone wants to change an identity of an animal they will be able to put on a new replacement tag presumably, claiming the old one was lost. Where there's a will there's a way unfortunately.

[rusty1]

kato - the "read/write" tags are written to at application by the tag applicating process. e.g. birth date
It is also beprogramed to lock down that piece of data.