Australian Cattle Recovery with RFID

Australia’s National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) is adding more value and purpose beyond its original intent of tracking cattle diseases. Identifying cattle and livestock that have wandered off of farms is being done, quickly and efficiently since they are tagged with RFID ear tags.

Cyclone Yasi that hit and went through north Queensland last week caused so much destruction in the small town and rural area. In the path of destruction are many farms, which have had fences and posts damaged by the cyclone. With the added damages all around, are wandering livestock in the streets and on properties of fellow farmers and neighbors.

The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) is helping in the recovery of wandering and stranded livestock, which now roam freely along streets, fields, and farms. Since all livestock like cattle and sheep have mandatory RFID ear tags, it is making identification of individual animals that much easier, and livestock are being returned to their rightful owners and farm of origin.

RFID ear tags provide tamper proof identification, which cannot be manipulated, providing secure and reliable identification of livestock. Cattle and sheep have typical EID button tags, while horses have an implanted microchip for equine identification. All these different type of RFID tags provide the exact same purpose, unique identification.

With natural disasters like cyclone Yasi that has hit Australia, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology along with a national database is proof that the system works. Australian cattlemen begin to round up livestock after cyclone Yasi.

With the cattle recovery in process, this opens a Pandora’s Box on a possible animal disease epidemic. State veterinarians will be monitoring all livestock closely over the next few months for signs of diseases in cattle and sheep.

© Copyright 2011 Livestock-ID

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Approved CSIP RFID Ear Tags

The Canadian Sheep Federation announced the Approved CSIP RFID Ear Tags which will be in effect as of January 01, 2013. CSIP tags are to be used with the Canadian Sheep Identification Program.

The Canadian Sheep Federation is moving forward in their current RFID sheep pilot, and progressing well with the implementation of RFID systems, and usability of the technology in place.
With the progress of the Canadian Sheep Federation (CSF) RFID Pilot, the CSF has given notice to its members on the new adoption of RFID ear tags for sheep.

UPDATE: in June 2011 the Canadian Sheep Federation extended the deadline for the RFID traceability requirement to January 01, 2013. The discontinued tags are no longer available for purchase, and it is recommended these tags be used immediately if you have them, or to use the new CSIP Approved RFID ear tags, as listed below.  

Approved CSIP RFID Ear Tags:

 

Effective January 1^st, 2013 the Approved CSIP Ear Tags will be the Allflex RFID tag and Shearwell RFID Tag. 

All sheep and goats will need to be tagged with approved CSIP Ear Tags.

Allflex RFID CSIP Tag: Approved Tag

Shearwell RFID CSIP Tag: Approved Tag

CSIP Tags that will be Decommissioned:

Ketchum Kurl Lock #3 (Pink)
Allflex Dangle Tag (Pink)
Allflex Dangle Tag

These tags are no longer official approved CSIP tags, and will no longer be sold after July 01, 2011. The tags will no longer be accepted by the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) as identification tags after Dec 31, 2011.


The Federal government has made a commitment to have a national traceability program in place for sheep and goats by December 31 2011, which will allow the tracing of sheep and goats from point of origin to the consumer.

In order to meet the requirements of the national traceability program, the Canadian Sheep Federation will need to adapt to using RFID tags, which will add integrity to the traceability program. The CSF has looked at all RFID tags available on the market, that would also meet the requirements of the Sheep and Goat industry, which due to size restraints has made an official approval of these tags from Allflex and Shearwell.

The traceability and reliability that RFID provides is essential for the development of the national traceability program, and the Canadian sheep and goat industry. Canadian sheep producers must move forward and increase their livestock production at a cost effective rate, to compete with Australian and New Zealand sheep industry.

At the moment Canadian sheep producers supply an approximate 40% of domestic supply of consumed lamb products. In keeping up with the demand for domestic lambs, producers must also be compliant with current food safety regulations. Australia and New Zealand are currently compliant with all food safety regulations, as RFID traceability of their livestock is already place.

CSIP RFID ear tags will give producers an extra benefit of on farm management, as the need to increase flock size is inevitable in Canada to meet current and future demands, this would have an extra cost in basic identification alone. RFID tags and livestock management software can provide producers, with reliable identification as well as basic record keeping that is quick, efficient, and reliable. 

The benefits of RFID tags in livestock are accurate identification quickly, ability to retrieve animal data, such as birth date, inoculations, inspections, weaning, weight, and so on. This info is quickly retrieved with basic sheep management software. Reporting of animal movements is also done quickly and reliably with an RFID reader, which then sends the tag EID’s to the sheep management software. With the sheep management software you then easily transmit your files of animal movements to the CLTS (Canadian Livestock Tracking System).

RFID readers and software are not needed with the national traceability program, but do give producers an added advantage in sheep management costs.

Additional Resources:

Canadian Sheep Federation (CSF) RFID Sheep Pilot

Canadian Lamb Company Initiative: A New Organization 


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Canadian Lamb Company Initiative: A New Organization

The Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board (SSDB) has announced the formation of the Canadian Lamb Company Initiative (CLCI) which is part of the many support changes in place, and to be implemented to support Canadian Sheep Producers.

The CLCI is fully supported by the Government of Canada, with an initial funding of $178,000 to establish itself, to support its objective in building a stronger lamb industry. Part of its multiphase project is to focus on and implement new business models and operations for the industry. The major part if the project will be establishing added value to the chain, for producers, processors, retailers, and distributors.

The newly formed organization will provide lamb producers with financial and market incentives needed in order to expand their operations and make a profit. Funding to start this program is being provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP). 

The CAAP is investing $163 million over five years (2009-2014) as a national initiative for the agriculture industry to adapt to changes and remain competitive in the market place. CAAP funding is for all areas of development including traceability, environment, climate change, diseases, and ongoing areas as needed.

Canadian Lamb Industry Note:

The Consumption of Lamb in Canada has been on a steady rise over the last few years, and research reports give a strong indication, that consumption will continue to rise at a steady and predictable rate over the next few years. The reason for the sudden increase in Lamb consumption in Canada can be attributed to Canada’s diverse population, growing ethnic communities, and healthier eating habits.

Lamb and goat are considered to be the alternative to beef for those who do not consume beef cow products, as they both have the same great protein content, which is highly recommended for good health. Lamb is a more lean and palatable red meat versus beef.

Lamb and Goat products have seen a major increase over the last few years in additional processed products, from cheeses, milk to ground meat, and pate. Canadian food service and retailers have been buying more lamb products to better serve their customers.

Warning Call of the Lamb Industry:

Canadian Lamb producers have been on a steady and rapid decline over the last few years, as a result the primary beneficiaries of the growth in demand for lamb products in the Canadian market are the lamb producers and lamb products marketing organizations in New Zealand and Australia.

Without an increase in the domestic production and marketing of domestic lambs, the Canadian lamb industry is in danger of becoming marginalized. Importers of New Zealand and Australian lamb products are on target to increase their market share from the current level of 60% of the market to over 80% of the Canadian retail and food service markets in the next 3-5 years.

© Copyright 2010 Livestock-ID

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