Identification Adds Value,Facilitates Good Business
Individual identification of beef cattle is a management practice that continues to evolve, especially as our industry becomes even more focused on integration and added value.
Originally animal identification (ID) was used to prove ownership, but today’s individual ID also forms the framework to track individual animal production as well as performance, and is also utilized for marketing programs.
This practice is the first step in the improvement of beef cattle production, allowing producers to record age, health, and reproductive efficiency, in addition to such performance information as weaning and yearling weights, and average daily gains.
No one-size-fits-all
Because operations and environments differ across the beef industry, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to how animals are identified. That is why ID specialists recommend producers determine a solution that best fits their situation, whether it’s commercial, purebred, stocker, or feedlot.
When it comes to the purchase of visual ear tag products – the most popular form of ID – convenience, performance, practicality, and cost-effectiveness are all important considerations, shares Steve Blackburn, the southeastern regional manager for livestock ID company, Allflex USA, the maker of AgriLabs’ AgriTags®. The type of tag is especially important.
For example, commercial and purebred operations that run mother cows require long-use tags that can withstand often varying terrains and environments. Because tags will be in these animals’ ears for a number of years, retention, readability, and color stability are the three most important things these producers require from an ear tag, Blackburn explains.
Tags that serve short, one-time uses are more in demand as calves are weaned and either go to grass or move into the feedyard sector. These tags, says Blackburn, are used for about 100 to 150 days, so economics is a primary consideration, along with retention and readability.
Cattle entering a feedyard are often tagged as a group or pen, but Blackburn relays that feedyards are also starting to tag cattle sequentially, in order to tie individual animals to pen numbers. For feeders, one-piece tags are often the product of choice because they are cost-effective and easy to apply. However, Blackburn reports that more feeders are also using the two-piece tags in order to identify specialty program cattle.
Two-piece tags, like the AgriTags, offer long-term retention and are made with more plastic for longer use. The collar on a female tag (panel) allows it to rotate on the male stem (button). Therefore, as the tag pivots with the animal, the hole stays the same size.
Because of this retention, calves are often tagged with two-piece calf tags at birth or spring branding. Calves targeted for export or age-verified programs may also receive electronic identification (EID) tags before they leave the ranch of origin or are commingled at a feedyard. Females that will be retained as replacements often “graduate” from a calf tag to a larger permanent herd ID tag as they’re confirmed pregnant and move into the main herd.
Retention relies on tagging technique
Retention rate is sometimes a concern of producers and the answer here is: tag size does matter. Typically the larger the tag, the poorer the retention. However, this rule is dependent on an animal’s environment, especially the type of terrain. More importantly, says Blackburn, retention often hinges on the tag’s placement in the ear and the tagging technique.
To maximize retention, he emphasizes, “Use the same brand of applicator as brand of tags.” Other tips he suggests: use the correct buttons (male stems) for 2-piece tags; apply tag correctly in ear location [see illustration]; use a new hole – not existing hole – for each tag; and disinfect tags before applying to prevent infection.
“Spending an extra two minutes to read directions for proper placement and application can save potential labor and frustration down the road,” he assures.
Tag size, ink determine readability
Readability of ear tags is another important consideration, and visual ID products should involve methods that are easy to read at a distance, easy to apply, and permanent.
Blackburn recommends pre-printed tags over handwritten tags. New technology has made permanent laser and laser-ink markings industry standard and good for the animal’s life.
In purebred scenarios, for example, producers often desire more management information on an ear tag. To customize tags on-site, handwritten information can be added to sequentially pre-numbered tags.
For these scenarios, Blackburn highly recommends producers use tag pens – not permanent markers – which contain ink especially formulated to withstand weather elements and fading. How much management information a producer desires on a visual tag often determines tag size for readability purposes.
Identifying aids management, helps track genetic progress
Don and Skeeter Brumley tag all calves at birth with pre-numbered, laser-marked ear tags at their Brumley Farms, a registered and commercial Hereford and Angus operation near Orovada, Nev.
Because these tags are permanent, calves receive cow-size tags marked with a four-digit management number: the beginning number and the ending letter both represent the calving year. For example, calf 100Y was their first born in year 2011. The Brumleys also handwrite the dam and sire’s numbers on the tag with a tag pen as calves are born.
This family’s cattle run in the high-desert environment of northern Nevada. “We don’t have fenceline issues, but a lot of brush,” Skeeter explains. Even though they use larger-size tags on calves, “we have extremely limited loss of tags,” she says. “You just have to make sure the button goes all the way through the ear for proper retention.”
While the Brumley’s tag all heifer and bull calves with one color of tags in the same ear, their neighbors to the north tag heifer calves and bull calves with different tag colors and also in different ears. This tagging technique is a useful aid when they sort and sex calves into summer pastures.
In another operation run by father-son, Jimmy and Kenny Thomas, Homedale, Idaho, three-digit management numbers on different colored ear tags help tell their commercial Angus cattle apart, even though they are managed in common. The target market for their products is Certified Angus Beef®. Individual identification allows these producers to cross-reference their herd ID numbers to USDA Process-Verified-Program AngusSource® tags in order to track individual carcass data and genetic progress.
As Blackburn points out, “Animal identification continues to be one of the least expensive and most valuable additions to an animal, especially from the standpoints of being able to identify, measure, and track genetic progress, nutrition, and herd health.
“It’s an easy way to make your cattle eligible for value-added programs, while elevating the value of your livestock marketings. It’s just part of good business,” he concludes.
Tagging Tips:
Steve Blackburn of Allflex USA, the maker of AgriLabs’ AgriTags®, offers these tips for visual ear tags:
√ Purchase or order ear tags well ahead of when they are needed.
√ For readability: Use pre-numbered tags and/or only use a tag marking pen to add information onto ear tags.
√ For retention: Use the same brand of applicator as brand of tags; the correct buttons for 2-piece tags; disinfect; and then apply tag in correct ear location, but not in an existing hole.
√ Keep a supply of blank tags on hand, and replace missing tags on a regular basis. Don’t wait until identification of individual animals becomes difficult.
AgriTags Offer Simplified ID Solution:
With an improved shape and wider neck for durability and retention, AgriLabs offers cow, calf, and multi-species AgriTags® in seven highly visible colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, classic purple, and white.
AgriTags are available in customized, blank, or consecutively numbered sets of 25. Numbers run in sets from 1-300, and other tag-number combinations are available upon request. Tags can also be printed with identification on both sides.
They feature a patented, advanced ink-over-laser marking system that is durable and easy to read, and a larger panel for added management information.
This two-piece tagging system also features Antibacterial Infection Protection™ coating on each stud to help minimize site infection. Tags can be applied with Allflex® or Destron Fearing™ Applicators for fast and easy application, especially important when processing larger groups of cattle. Tags are easily loaded onto an applicator, and the fast-release system frees the tag quickly without dragging or tearing.
AgriTags are available through AgriLabs distributors. For the distributor near you, refer to the card inside this issue of BHW.