Incentive for cattle ID

TWIN FALLS, Idaho – Cattle producers from seven states including Idaho will get paid for helping the U.S. Department of Agriculture establish a national animal identification system.

The USDA is funding the Northwest Pilot Project. It pays eligible participants 75 cents per transaction per animal every time the producer enters identification data, said Julie Morrison, Idaho Cattle Association Feeder Council coordinator. She said although there are allowances for herds smaller than 100 head of cattle, the agency is trying to stick to herds between 100 and 200 animals. Those larger than 200 head will only be paid for that number.

Those who want to participate in the pilot program must pay for initial animal identification hardware and implementation costs. The radio frequency identification tag is becoming the most popular ID tool, but producers can also continue branding or using visual ear tags or optical scanning.

“It’s important to have those options, because the way we run cattle here in the West is different than anywhere else in the country,” Morrison said.

Participants must make their records open for review. Livestock movement is entered into a computer Internet system so participants must be willing to have their names released as part of the project.

Data from the ID tags will include premises, owner and contact information, type of operation and the animal’s movement, said Marilyn Simunich, Idaho State Department of Agriculture veterinarian.