Cattle
Identification
Table of Contents
Introduction
Background
Regulated
National ID
Within-Herd Methods for ID
Using
RFID with in the Herd
Summary
Introduction
This
Factsheet describes two types of identification (ID) methods for cattle - regulated
national ID and within-herd methods for ID - and is applicable to all types of
cattle in Ontario - beef, dairy and veal.
Background
Cattle
identification, such as hot branding, has been used extensively in North America
to show ownership of cattle. The purebred industry has used tattoos to establish
unique animal identification. Other types of ID have been adopted for successful
herd management for production, health and breeding decisions.
With the support
of the Canadian cattle industry, regulation was enacted on January 1, 2001, requiring
all cattle leaving the farm of origin to be identified with a tag bearing a unique
identification number.
Regulated National ID
History
and Purpose
To maintain beef export markets, the Canadian cattle industry
proposed and received regulated approval to establish the Canadian Cattle Identification
Program, run under the authority of the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency
(CCIA). The purpose of the program is to contain and/or eradicate 16 reportable
diseases through identification and trace-back of infected animals. The program
has been put to the test many times with identified cases of bovine spongiform
encephalopathy (BSE). Initially, Canadian export markets closed after the first
case of BSE, but some markets reopened soon after, partially due to the trace-back
system that was in place.
The program also integrates age verification with
national ID. Age verification is a requirement for some export markets and is
important, domestically, for determining when it is necessary to remove specified
risk materials (SRMs) at slaughter. SRMs are tissues in a cattle carcass where
BSE concentrates. By regulation, SRMs are removed from the carcasses of animals
older than 30 months of age and disposed of separately. Some export countries
have age limitations for Canadian cattle.
How Does It Work?
Since
September 1, 2006, all cattle leaving their herd of origin must be tagged with
a CCIA-approved RFID (radio frequency identification) tag (Figure 1). Tags are
distributed through authorized dealers only and registered to the producer. Tags
can be placed in either ear of the animal, except in Quebec where all cattle must
be tagged in the animal's right ear.
Each RFID tag has a visual and electronically
embedded 15-digit number (Figure 2). The first three numbers (124) indicate the
code for Canada, and the remaining 12 digits are unique to each tag. This number
forms the unique animal ID in a national database maintained by the CCIA. The
RFID number is retired from the database once the animal is disposed of through
slaughter, death or export. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) enforces
the program by monitoring cattle for appropriate tags at public auction barns
and slaughter facilities.
Figure
1: RFID tags and tag applicator.
Figure
2: RFID tag.
Approvals of tags and tag readers by the CCIA are on-going,
and rules for the regulatory process may change. For up-to-date information, consult
the CCIA website or contact their office:
Canadian Cattle Identification
Agency (CCIA)
#300, 5735 - 7th St. N.E.
Calgary, Alberta T2E
8V3
Toll-Free: 1-877-909-2333 (BEEF)
Tel: 403-275-2083
Fax: 403-275-1668
Website: www.canadaid.com
National
Livestock Identification for Dairy (NLID)
The dairy industry in Canada
has developed the National Livestock Identification for Dairy (NLID), which meets
the requirements of national ID with additional rules to better suit their industry.
The NLID uses a two-tag system that allows each animal's unique ID to be read
visually and by an RFID reader. The tag set comes in four parts, along with matching
labels for recording. The RFID tag consists of a microchip button and a small
visual tag-back panel (Figure 3). The security tag has pre-printed front and back
panels with matching number. It is recommended that the RFID button go in the
animal's right ear to help avoid missing tags when using RFID readers.
Figure
3: Tags used for the NLID system.
The NLID system is recognized in Canada,
the U.S. and Mexico and meets the standards of the Dairy Farmers of Canada's Canadian
Quality Milk program, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the CCIA and Canadian
dairy breed registry herd books.
Registered and unregistered animals are
tagged shortly after birth and a unique national identification number is assigned
to each animal and recorded. Lost or broken tags must be replaced by a tag of
the identical ID number. An NLID replacement tag will be reissued with the same
original number and, if lost through normal wear and tear, be replaced free of
charge.
Tags may be ordered directly from:
NLID
P.O.
Box 2065
Brantford, ON N3T 5W5
Toll Free: 1-877-771-6543 (NLID)
Fax:
519-756-3502
Website: www.nlid.org
Within-Herd
Methods for ID
Ear Tags
Ear tags are most commonly
used for within-herd animal identification. Tags can be metal or plastic.
Metal
Tags
Metal tags are self-piercing aluminum or steel ear tags
that are inexpensive and easy to apply. Tags come in various colours and have
a high retention rate. However, the numbers on the tags are small; animals must
be restrained for the tag to be read, so metal tags are mainly used as back-up
for lost plastic tags.
Figure
4: Neck tag with hanging transponder.
Plastic Tags
The
biggest advantage of the plastic tags is that they are readable from a distance.
There are numerous kinds of plastic/rubber tags on the market. They can be purchased
in several different colours, with preprinted numbers or blank, allowing producers
to mark them with their numbering system, the animal's breed, sire and dam, etc.
Tags also vary in size and shape and are available as dual front-back tags. Buttons
securing the tags can also be ordered with numbers.
Sellers of tags have applicators
specifically designed for applying their tags. Proper ear location for applying
tags is important for tag retention. Tag manufacturers provide directions for
tagging and ideal tag placement in the ear for their tags.
Neck
Tags
Neck tags and transponders are attached to a chain or
strap around the neck of animals. They are commonly used in dairy cow management
to provide electronic and visual identification within herd for management purposes.
One of the early uses of RFID technology was to measure feed intake in beef cattle
using transponders secured to chains around an animal's neck, however, today,
few beef cattle producers use neck tags for within-herd management.
Figure
5: Example tattoo and ideal location on cattle's ear.
Neck-mounted transponders
are commonly used for automated ID in milking parlours and robotic milking systems,
as well as automated sort gates and feeders (Figure 4). They may also be combined
with other features such as activity monitors for lameness or heat detection.
There are some disadvantages to neck tags/transponders in that they can be proprietary
and specific to a system, making them much more expensive to purchase and replace
than RFID ear tags.
Brisket Tags
This
type of tag is secured to the animal by piercing through the skin in the brisket
area, allowing the tag portion to hang freely for easy reading. While brisket
tags are less likely than dangle ear tags to rip out because the hide in the brisket
area is tougher than softer ear tissue, they are seldom used with beef cattle
and virtually never with dairy cattle.
Tattoos
Tattooing
has been adopted by beef breed associations as a standard for identifying animals,
as it is the most satisfactory method for permanent individual marking. When properly
done, a tattoo is permanent, definite and not easily changed without disfiguring
the animal. Breed associations have developed a system for tattooing that results
in unique ID. Each herd is assigned a two-to-four- letter code, each year is assigned
a letter and each animal within a year is given a number. For example, the tattoo
ABC 12W (Figure 5) would identify, within herd ABC, animal 12, tagged in 2009.
Contact individual breed associations to receive herd letters for animal registrations.
Commercial cattle can also be tattooed, but the practice is not widespread due
to the labour required. Some commercial beef producers have adopted the same ID
system to maintain unique ID for within- and across-herd performance evaluations
without actually tattooing the animal.
To ensure readable, lasting tattoos,
it is important to tattoo when animals are young and well restrained. Equipment
can vary, so follow the instructions included with purchased applicators.
Branding
Branding
is a method of permanent cattle ID, adopted mostly for proving ownership. There
are two methods of branding: hot branding and freeze branding. Hot branding is
used extensively in Western Canada but very little in Ontario. Freeze branding
is rarely adopted in Ontario.
Hot Brands
Hot or fire
brands are quickly applied and inexpensive. The hot iron destroys the hair follicles,
resulting in a permanent, hair-free scar in the shape of the iron used. Good brands
are achieved by properly heating irons, by clipping hair from the hide where the
brand is to be applied and by keeping irons clean. Irons can be heated by wood
fire, propane gas fire or electric attachments. Good brands require no more than
3-5 seconds of even contact with the hide. Branding irons are custom-made of iron,
steel or stainless steel. The actual brand takes many shapes and forms. Most provinces
require and have provided for the recording of brands, which are allotted for
a fee, for a period of time. In Ontario, the Ontario Cattlemen's Association maintains
a registry of brands in accordance with the Livestock Branding Act, 1981.
The
disadvantage of hot branding is that it damages the value of the hide used for
leather production. The practice is also receiving increased scrutiny as an animal
welfare issue.
Freeze Brands
Freeze branding works quite
differently from hot branding in that a very cold branding iron applied to the
hide results in freezing the hair follicles. The result varies, depending on the
duration of application. A shorter application time results in hair growing back
white, and a longer application time results in no hair regrowth. Herds that have
experimented with freeze branding and found it successful are usually herds of
black-haired cattle. There are many steps required for successful freeze branding,
so it is very important to closely follow the manufacturer's instructions
Figure
6: Figure 1. RFID handheld reader reading RFID tag.
Using
RFID Within the Herd
The minimum requirement for regulated ID only requires
RFID tags to be applied when leaving the herd of origin. Many operations choose
to tag all cattle within the herd and are utilizing RFID technology within their
production systems to improve herd management. Operations such as feedlots that
purchase all their feeders with RFID tags have an ideal scenario for incorporating
RFID within their production systems. Some producers are also combining other
methods of ID along with RFID for management purposes, such as dangle ear tags
with other herd numbers. These numbers are matched within the herd record system.
An
effective RFID system within a herd helps producers by capturing the numbers electronically,
thereby reducing labour costs and human error in entries. This information is
then automatically transferred to a computer system with a compatible herd management
software program. There are many different software packages available and more
in development that a producer can use to best fit any particular operation or
management need.
RFID numbers are captured using handheld (Figure 6) and
panel readers that can read tags from 6-40 in. away. Handheld readers have a much
shorter reading distance than panel readers. Readers can transfer information
from tags directly to computers through either a direct line or a wireless network.
Handheld readers can store information within the unit for batch transfer to computer
at a later time. Readers can also be connected to other electronic devices, such
as an electronic weigh scale, so that ID can be automatically associated with
production information. For example, a reader can store production information
to allow chute-side analysis for average daily gain calculation as animals are
weighed.
Another important function of RFID on-farm is recording animal
movement for traceability. The ID numbers for animals ready to be shipped off
the farm are transferred to the next owner easily through a printed report or
a database that tracks animal movement. This can also be done via e-mail or through
a central data system on the Internet. Using RFID and electronic systems transfers
your information more efficiently.
Summary
Over
time, the purpose of cattle ID has evolved from proving ownership to identifying
individuals within a herd to creating unique RFID numbers for all cattle in Canada.
National ID is critical to maintaining national herd health status and protecting
markets for Canadian cattle and products. As the technology advances, RFID will
become an integral part of within-herd management systems and animal traceability
from the farm to the beef product purchased by consumers.
This Factsheet
was written by Don Blakely, Beef Quality Assurance Program Lead, OMAFRA, Elora.
