Released: February 17, 2004

K-State Cattlemen’s Day Features Electronic Animal Identification

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State University animal scientist Dale Blasi has seen the future of beef cattle identification ... and that future is now, he said.

He’s helping to spread the word about an electronic animal identification method that may soon become mandatory for producers. The United States Animal Identification Plan is designed to develop a system to trace – within 48 hours – an animal or premises that may have been exposed to disease.

Blasi will discuss electronic animal identification during an afternoon breakout session at the annual Cattlemen’s Day, March 5, at Kansas State University.

Cattlemen’s Day begins with registration at 8 a.m., followed by a trade show and educational exhibits. Speakers will present new information and research from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., including an afternoon update on mad cow disease and its market fallout.

Those who preregister to attend will receive a complimentary lunch during Cattlemen’s Day. For those who do not register ahead of time, lunch will be available for $10. All other Cattlemen’s Day activities are free. (More information is available on-line at www.oznet.ksu.edu/pr_cattleday).

Blasi, who recently developed a publication on electronic animal identification, said many types of electronic identification are available. The most popular, however, is radio-frequency identification, which works through a hand-held reader that transmits information back to a computer.

The reader broadcasts a signal by antenna, which is picked up by a transponder located in a computer chip in the animal’s ear tag. The transponder then sends an identifying response back to the reader, and the data is stored in the computer.

Blasi’s publication on the subject is available through local K-State Research and Extension offices. Cattlemen’s Day will include a demonstration of the technology.

One benefit of a national animal identification plan is that the beef industry can build the infrastructure and have a tool to help contain infectious diseases in cattle quickly.

“That’s the whole idea behind this,” Blasi said.

In addition the potential of helping to contain an outbreak of disease, he said, the identification system would help improve economic efficiency.

Identification systems using this technology “are coming down in price,” Blasi added. “At one time, costs were really excessive. With increased volume, costs for tags have steadily decreased, and I suspect they’ll fall even more.”

More information on electronic identification can be found on the Web at www.beefstockerusa.org. For additional information about K-State’s Cattlemen’s Day, interested persons can call Lois Schreiner at 785-532-1267 send e-mail to lschrein@oznet.ksu.edu.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Pat Melgares
melgares@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News