Since 2013, breeding cattle over the age of 18 months, dairy cattle, and any cattle used for shows, etc. needed to have an official ID to move between states.
This spring, USDA amended that rule so that the IDs have to be both visually AND electronically readable. More recently, USDA says by Nov. 5, newly applied tags need to be both visually and electronically readable. These tags are known as 840 RFID — “radio frequency identification.”
Tressa Lacy, president of the Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association, says she understands why there’s some pushback on electronic ID tags — some folks are apprehensive because of the cost, the confidentiality of the data, and the supply chain’s capacity to read these tags.
However, WCA and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association support the change. Lacy says the rollout may not be perfect, but it needs to start somewhere to protect the beef supply chain from potential disease outbreaks.
She says NCBA is working to alleviate some of the concerns producers have outlined. NCBA is supporting having a private party in charge of the data to keep it confidential. NCBA is also supporting the government to fund the tags.
The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection has a limited supply available to help producers offset costs: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/OfficialID.aspx
Lacy adds that electronic ID tags have the potential to make ranching easier – but more importantly, it’s to stay ahead of animal disease outbreaks, such as Foot & Mouth Disease or Mad Cow Disease.