Managing Cattle Enterprise Risk with Electronic Animal Identification
What it is
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is one possible technology that can be used for animal tracking and food safety. It is already in use in other markets for tracking and book keeping. As record keeping requirements may soon increase due to disease and Homeland Security risks, this technology would ease in their collection.
The United States Animal Identification Plan (USAIP) is responsible for creating the standard that will be used as part of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) that will create a universal system for keeping track of cattle, complete from calf to butcher. Currently the USAIP is preferring the used of RFID as opposed to other identification techniques, but the plan has yet to be finalized, so this is applicable to change.
Why one might want it
Although initially pushed for safety concerns, RFID also provides other benefits that include individual cow knowledge about:
- Reproduction performance
- Age
- Disease testing and treatment records
- Health condition scores
- Grazing location
RFID and this information can aid in:
- Replacement numbers management
- Nutrition management
- Grazing land performance
- Field observation identity of cows or calves for treatment
- Selecting which cows to save in case of a herd downsizing in response to drought
- Management practice monitoring and evaluation
Now find out what is involved with RFID