Individual Animal Information

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Individual Animal Information

• 5-State Beef Initiative
• Mark Scott, M.S. Michigan State University
• FSBI Data Analyst

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The cattle business is like a dogsled team.
If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never
changes!
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Outline

• Importance of unique identification
• Radio frequency identification
• Data collection
• Data management and use
• Steps in collecting, entering, and retrieving
  information

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Why is a Unique ID so Important?
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Unique Identification

• Allows confirmation of individual identity when
  animals are commingled
• Basis for sharing information among segments
• Allows for source verification and management or
  process verification
• Provides the basis for automated data collection
• Allows application of information back to a sire
  and dam

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RFID

• Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
• Also referred to as electronic or EID
• Like barcode, magnetic strip or other automatic
  ID
• RFID consists of a reader which transmits a
  radio-frequency signal to a specially designed
  tag, which responds with another radio message

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Electronic RFID tag

• Applied like other2-part tags
• FSBI is currently using Allflex EID tags that
  are ISO compliant
• Tags are single use and tamper resistant

Inside
Transponder contains a unique 15-digit number
Copper antenna
Last 8 digits of unique number
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Advantages of RFID tags

• Reliable in harsh environments
• Easy to apply, non-intrusive
• Freedom from line-of-sight constraints
• Unlike barcodes, transponders can be read through
  body tissue, mud, manure, and other non-iron
  solids
• Retention is typically gt 98

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Collection of Data

• An RFID tag does nothing to capture or record
  data
• Data must be collected (weights, treatments,
  carcass measures, etc.)
• Data must be entered into a database along with
  the unique ID
• Data must be summarized into meaningful
  information for it to valuable

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Data Management

• The 5-State Beef Initiative has partnered with
  eMerge Interactive to accomplish data collection,
  data warehousing, and information sharing

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CattleLog ME (manual entry)

• Data collection is done on paper forms to
  minimize cost
• Data is mailed to FSBI State Coordinator
• Data is entered into the computerand
  synchronized with the eMerge database
• Information is then available through web-based
  reporting or the FSBI State Coordinator

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Collection of Carcass Data

• FSBI is working with processors in the region to
  make carcass data sharing routine
• Carcass data collected may differ between plants,
  but generally will include
• Hot weight
• Ribeye area, sq in.
• Adjusted fat thickness, in
• Kidney, pelvic, heart fat,
• Yield Grade may then be calculated
• Marbling Score
• Maturity
• Quality Grade may then be determined

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Animal Data Tracking Cost

• Cost to Michigan
• Range of cost FSBI participant
• Item in industry for 2002 born calves
• RFID visual tag 3.00 - 4.00 3.00a
• Animal data collection/process 1.00 - 4.00 0b
• Carcass data collection 6.00 -
  8.00 6.00-8.00c
• Database fee 1.00 - 4.00 1.00d
• Total cost/animal 11.00 20.00/hd. 10-12/hd
  .
• a Tags will typically be put in at weaning time.
• b Data collection through Extension educators,
  veterinarians, etc.
• c The price for carcass data collection includes
  full carcass data.
• d 2002 database fee is discounted via the FSBI
  partnership with eMerge Interactive

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What is the Value of Being Able to Improve by 10
?
Value from to /animal

• Death loss, 2.0 1.8 .90
• Medication, /hd 10.00 9.00 1.00
• Yield Grade 4, 7.4 6.7 1.11
• Choice QG, 65 71.5 4.88
• Gain, lb/d 3.0 lb/d 3.3 lb/d 10.40
• Efficiency, F/G 6.75 6.08 23.03

Based on standard partial budgeting
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How Do I Start Benefiting from Individual Animal
Data?
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Step ?Apply Unique Identification

• All market animals need to be tagged with a RFID
  tag and a visual tag
• This is a requirement for data entry
• These tags are available through your FSBI State
  Coordinator
• Cow/calf
• Bulls and cows should have a permanent, unique
  identification within your herd. This can be as
  simple as a unique ear-tag number
• Proper ID is necessary to use the information to
  make breeding decisions

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RFID Tag Placement
RFID tag needs to be placed in animals left ear
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Step ?Record Information
These entries are on the data entry forms that
will be provided

• Calf
• Electronic ID
• Visual ID
• Birth date (month as minimum)
• Sire and dam breeds
• Sire and dam ID
• Hide color
• Calf gender
• Implant (if applicable)
• Health treatments
• Vaccine regimen
• Weaning/sale weight and date

• Feedlot
• Feedlot arrival / sale weight and date (if
  applicable)
• Arrival medication
• Vaccine regimen
• Implant(s)

Assistance provided by FSBI State
Coordinator Extension Educators Veterinarians
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Step ?Submit Data

• Mail your completed data entry forms to the FSBI
  State Coordinator (Joel Cowley)
• 2265D Anthony Hall
• Michigan State University
• East Lansing, MI 48824
• 517-432-5444
• cowley_at_msu.edu
• They will enter the data and submit it to eMerge
  Interactive

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Step ?Retrieve Information

• eMerge Interactive will post information on the
  web(only for the eyes of the owner/managers of
  the animal)
• The information will be available to producers
  both on the web and from the FSBI State
  Coordinator

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Step ?Use the Information

• Study the information and decide which management
  changes will result in the most return
• Extension educators, FSBI verifiers, and
  veterinarians are available to help you with data
  interpretation and application(Contact Joel
  Cowley)

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• The Five-State Beef Initiative (FSBI) is headed
  in the direction that we need to be going We are
  in the information age, and as we enter this
  century we must have information to improve
  cattle We do ourselves a huge favor when we can
  get producers together to use an electronic ear
  tag and know what they are raising.
• Lynn Cornwell, President
• National Cattlemens Beef Association

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Five-State Beef InitiativeData Management Action
Team

• Dan Buskirk, Michigan State Univ., Animal
  Science
• Roy Black, Michigan State Univ., Ag Economics
• Mike Bumgarner, United Producers, Marketing
  Services
• Tim Dietrich, Marketing Specialist, Kentucky
  Department of Ag.
• Byron Fagg, Purdue Univ., County Extension Dir.,
  Washington Co.
• John Johns, Univ. of Kentucky, Animal Science
• Donna Lofgren, Professional Associate, Purdue
  Univ.
• Mark Scott, Michigan State Univ., Animal Science
• Jamie Willrett, Willrett Farms, Illinois