"Why, What and Where" Debut

I’m starting a new series that I’ve been working on for some time called “Why, What and Where?”

So many things we do on the farm are common place to us while to others peaks their curiosity. We’re all about show and tell and helping the consumer connect with the farm and farmer.

I hope to enlist the help of my fellow Ag Sisters and their experiences as the series grows.

Today for the first installment I will answer a “What”.

“What are those tags in the cow’s ears?”

We use several different tags to identify the cows. When a heifer (a female calf/cow before she gives birth) is born we use a self locking metal ear tag with identification numbers that are entered into the computer that will identify her. We use these as a back up to the yellow tags that are more visible. Sometimes the yellow tags can get caught or pulled off by objects in their environment (such as a gate, etc.) but the metal tags are pretty secure.

We use smaller yellow tags on strings around the neck of the young calves for a few days because the heaviness of the larger ones can cause their ears to droop.

Notice the name Million? That is the name of the father of this calf. Also, notice the self-locking metal tag in the same ear.

When the calves are a little older we put the larger yellow tag in their ears which is their permanent number. That number is entered into the computer and the tag stays with the animal their whole life on our farm.

When a bull calf is born we tag them with an RFID tag – Radio Frequency Identification. Each tag has a visual number – a premise ID number that is associated with our farm. That number is embedded in the tag and can be read by a reader.

It’s a law that any animal that leaves the farm must have an RFID tag to identify it and connect it to the farm where the cow originates. Since the bull calves leave within a few days, we tag them at birth.

If and when we sell a heifer or cow they must have a RFID tag also. We don’t tag them until they are ready to leave because each tag costs $2.30 and possibly they can be lost and then you have to retag the animal. It’s much more efficient to tag them as they leave the farm.

On a farm tour my son was giving, a pre-schooler raised his hand and asked “Farmer Dan, why do the cows have price tags?” And, now you know.

If you have any specific question you’d like answered leave me a comment and I’ll do my best to address it if I haven’t already.