CCIA tags

[mfearing]

Anybody know where to get these tags?

[chalmers]

My understanding is the tags will be made available directly from the manufacturer and/or distributors in your local area. If you call the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency at 1-877-909-2333 they can tell you who is selling tags in your particular area.

[cowhand]

Why would you want to buy the tags? The mandatory aspects of the Herd ID program won't be enforced immediately (if ever) and the tags offer no value to the cow-calf producer but cost extra. Seems like a waste of money.

[mfearing]

You must be using some other method of ID to keep records but it seems clear there will be enforcement once it becomes mandatory to use the tags. They say it will not be legal to move animals from the farm of origin without them and processing plants won't accept them. The CCIA also says that over half the Canadian herd is exported and the world market is sensitive to disease control (i.e. mad cow in the U.K.). How else do you do it? Thanks for replying, I appreciate it.

[cowhand]

I use ear tags for my record keeping. But the CCIA tags are going to cost more for sure, if only because of the cost of administration of the program which is built into the price of the tag. And what does the farmer get for this extra cost, well nothing at all. Up to now the federal government bore the cost of tracing animals back to the original owner, now that cost will be downloaded to the producer. I wouldn't mind paying more for the tags if I got some value in return, like carcass information, but as it is I get nothing but pay more. The vast, vast majority of our exported beef goes to the U.S. and they don't have a requirement for Herd ID, which makes me wonder why we find it necessary. The truth of the matter is that the U.S. producer wouldn't stand for being forced into a mandatory program like this but somehow the powers that be feel that us Canadian producers will. Are we really that gullible? Time will tell.

[jmillang]

The americans are looking at a system for health traceback. They are further ahead of us in Canada with all the alliances and contracted supply programs (if you call captive supply being ahead) The US actually has an ex officio rep sitting on the CCIA board of directors. The other thing the american beef industry is very much a domestic supply oriented, if I remember right they only export about 10% of their beef (which is equivalent to the entire Canadian herd). Just look what happens to ground beef prices (in the US) every time we have a e coli outbreak in the US. You are right the tags will be a bit more, but when the system gets up and running the increase in people tagging their animals will increase the number of tags being used and such bigger volumes tend to drive prices down. The number (I remember) of actual producers tagging their calves is less than 50%, now that does not mean that only 50% of the calves are tagged just the number of producers. Keep up the dialogue we need more questions and especially answers about this program.

[cowhand]

I don't have too much more to say about this but will add these points. The Americans are looking at Herd ID sure enough but theirs is voluntary and is aimed at attracting producers by offering them something of value, such as carcass information feedback and improving herd genetics. Bottom line, there are two ways to get producers to go along with something like this tagging. You can offer them something of value in return for tagging the animals as they leave the farm or force them into it by making the tagging mandatory and punishing those who choose not to go along with fines and restrictions. Where I come from, we believe you catch more flies with honey. So why not make the program attractive to producers by offering us cattle guys a little honey, maybe it is carcass information, maybe it is something else to get us to buy in willingly on our own before running to the feds to add more regulations and costs to our business. I think the people behind this need to give it a bit more thought.

[mfearing]

I am hearing the tags are selling for around $1.05 for the small ones on up to $1.50 or so for the largest ones. How does that compare to what you are now paying? The CCIA charges $0.20 per tag for the number, the rest is tag cost and the most expensive part is the labor and marketing. The $0.20 seems high but I'll bet the tag manufacturers have lowered their prices quite a bit in view of the volume potential which may make up for it. The CCIA under the CCA definitely expects, and I am certain will be pushing, for programs that feed carcus informaiton back to the producer. Back to the cost of the tag, manufacturers are volume driven meaning cost generally goes down when more of the same thing is done repeatedly. Many other countries that have national tagging programs have tag costs way down just because of the volume and effeciencies gained as a result. What is a tag worth to you? Thanks again. Mike

[kato]

I work at a vet clinic. I was talking to our sales rep (Z-Tags) about when the tags would be available. He was informed from above that it may be as soon as the end of March. Another rep from a different company told me last week that they would have been out by now, except that the government and tag companies were in a disagreement over who would keep records. (Typical) I was quoted about 1.50 cost to the producer for large tags as well, but we'll have to wait until they arrive to know for sure. It would have been nice to have them in time for calving, and save a tag. Only time will tell how the system will work, but my opinion is it's better to be pro-active on something like this, than scrambling to clean up a mess later.

[cowhand]

What is a tag worth to me? I remember paying something like $5 for a blue tag in the late 70s, early 80s. For my five bucks I got back carcass information which I thought was more than worth the cost of the tag. There were no fines if I didn't use the tag, I did it on my own. That is my point. If they want us to put tags in, make it worth our while. Give us something of value for our money and effort instead of hit us over the head with fines. I think they are asking a lot of us ranchers to spend money and change the ways we do things for something as warm and fuzzy as the 'good of the industry'. I am more interested in cash in my jeans. If something pays me back I don't need a mandatory program with fines to make me do it. I am with you in thinking that carcass info will eventually be available, but why not have the CCIA get their act together and have it available up front right away. Most of the countries that are looking at tagging their cows like this are going the voluntary route, why aren't we? I am going to get off the soapbox now, thanks for letting me rant on. No one will listen anyway, the CCIA is just going to do what they want. Who is going to stop them? And if we go along with this kind of approach to raising cattle, using fines and regulations, mandatory this and compulsory that, instead of common sense and the profit motive, well I guess it is our fault and we deserve what we get.