Tests on radio frequency ear tags and electronic readers show the tags are read successfully most of the time.
A study involving nine auctions in Canada and another one involving six markets in Alberta hope to learn which systems work best and if they benefit the beef industry.
The national study scanned more than 130,000 head of mostly stockers and feeders from September to December, while the Alberta study wound up at the end of June.
“There was a real lack of independent data out there on whether these scanning units could perform under the environment at the Canadian auction markets and our weather and how we handle the cattle,” said Rick Wright, chair of the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency committee that oversaw the national project.
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Much of the scanning technology was imported from Australia, but weather, handling and scanning needs are different in Canada.
Results are variable and it remains to be seen whether less than 100 percent readability is acceptable to the federal government’s food traceability proposal.
“There hasn’t been a national tolerance level set yet,” Wright said.
The Alberta project is using only one brand of scanner, and researchers want to know if tags fail to read because they are lost or faulty, said Brent MacEwan, head of traceability for Alberta Agriculture.
“We are trying to figure out why those didn’t read. We are finding the positioning of the tag makes a difference,” he said.
Researchers also found that unknown electricalinterference occurred periodically at the auction yards, which needs to be investigated.
A primary goal is assessing the speed of the system because auction markets and other industry groups have said traceability must not slow business. Cattle lose pounds if they stand around waiting for hours to be scanned.
The national study found scans took seven to 10 minutes in some groups and a few minutes in others. The total impact per day was more than two hours in some cases.
Scanning the tags when cattle enter and leave the sale ring had the least impact on efficiency. Markets’ speed of commerce was affected by as little as a few minutes to as much as 14 minutes.
Accuracy varied from week to week and market to market because of electrical interference, faulty tags, poor tag placement, animal behaviour and size of cattle.
“We didn’t get a consistent read on any of the equipment that was in,” Wright said.
Accuracy was better if cattle moved through nose to tail compared to markets where wider alleys allowed several to come through at once.
Wright, who represents the livestock marketing industry, said traceability has a way to go.
“We are probably not ready for the traceability yet. We agree with it in principle and we are working with all the parties to find a solution,” he said.
“The CCIA (Canadian Cattle Identification Agency) opinion is that we are working with government to try and develop a traceability system that is suitable for Canada. There have been no timelines established by either one of the parties.”
Cost is an issue. Scanners, ear tags and computer software are expensive to buy, install and maintain.
“Government has indicated to industry they are prepared to put up a percentage of approved expenses,” he said.
“That is fine and dandy to pay a percentage on the installation, but what about the ongoing costs, the maintenance, the upgrades, the warranties?”
The preliminary cost estimates based on installing one system at each of the estimated 150 auction markets in Canada totals $8.6 million. This estimate does not include software or installations at buying stations and assembly yards.
It was determined that auction markets will have additional operating costs resulting from administration, submission of the tag reporting, hardware maintenance and the need for more staff.
The two studies are moving into phase two to examine value adding possibilities such as including information about age verification and other relevant buyer information at the same participating markets.
“We know plunking a reader in an auction market isn’t going to add any value,” MacEwan said.
