A Manitoba producer is frustrated with the radio frequency tags now included in the national cattle identification program.
Steve Sawatzky of Pilot Mound said he tagged 30 of his calves with radio frequency tags in January. At least three or four calves have already have lost their tags, he said, which seem to be rubbed off when the animals eat hay from round bale feeders.
“Sooner or later they’re going to have to go away from plastic because it simply does not work,” Sawatzky said.
He said the tags are not getting snagged on twine because he removes it as soon as he hauls bales to the feeders.
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He also doesn’t believe cold weather interfered with properly snapping together the front and back components through the animals’ ears.
He thinks the problem can be solved by manufacturing metal tags that do not protrude as much from the animals’ ears.
“I don’t have a problem with radio frequency if they could somehow embed it in the metal.”
Nadine Meade, database and office manager for the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency, said the radio frequency tags, also known as RFID tags, underwent strenuous testing to ensure tag retention.
The CCIA also tests the tags once they are on retailers’ shelves to ensure that what the manufacturers submitted for the trials is what they are manufacturing for sale to producers. Seven companies make the tags.
“It would be interesting to know if it’s coming from a specific tag manufacturer that we need to check into,” she said, referring to Sawatzky’s concerns.
Producers with concerns about the national ID tags can phone 877-909-2333.
