EID tags will be required by 01/1/2021.

[pdfangus]

Well I think the concept is good but the administration is awful....
The government let the packers and NCBA structure the program...
the producer gets no benefit and all the responsibility...
also having a permanent ID assigned to a temporary device such as a tag is idiotic to the extreme....
in the beginning there was the possibility of using RFID Implants in the ear cartilage or in the cartilage above the foot.
The packers put a stop to that out of fear that they might have to throw away an ear.....destroying their profit margins...
thousands of horses are chipped with no problems what so ever....thousands of dogs are chipped...but few of us eat dogs...both of my dogs are chipped....thinking of doing my horses and my few cows...
mostly because people keep telling me that I can not....
yeah....I have some stubborn genes too...

[Dave]

I know several western states are saying that a hot iron brand is as good as a EID tag. Actually it is better. That EID tag could be cut out or lost. A hot iron brand is staying with the cow for life.

[pdfangus]

I know several western states are saying that a hot iron brand is as good as a EID tag. Actually it is better. That EID tag could be cut out or lost. A hot iron brand is staying with the cow for life.

I have hot branded when I was another mans cowboy for a few years....
I hated it...I was the guy holding the calves...I didn't mind holding the calves....but the burning flesh and hair and the calves bawling and the hard to read brands that did not turn out so well...
I know it is tradition and part of the life in the west....

but if I had to go back to branding it would be freeze branding again....a little more work and a little more prep time but definitely better and for just a little bit of money you can get a set of numbers and permanently id individual animals, not just a ranch brand. I saw a cow a little while back that I sold over ten years ago....I knew the brand number...

[Red Bull Breeder]

Unless you retain ownership, he$$ will freeze over first before the packer shares carcass data with producers.
I got caught up with the early 2000 optional push for EID tags and ranch ID deal when I was located in CA. When it sunk in, I was mortified to have been so willingly gullible aka incredibly stupid.

Incredibly stupid is what we will all be if we allow this nanny state crap to happen. Anyone that doesn't think cattle can be traced in this country is nuts. If you don't believe it load one up with bird shot and send her to the sale barn. Some one will be in contact with you. No i am not the one that put the bird shot in the cow.

[76 Bar]

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