[Jacob-list] tags and tracking

[Neal and Louise Grose]

"----    I am sure the Holstein Cattle Association (have no clue what that organization(s)'s name is......) is not much quicker.  The point:  TIMELINESS and THE PUBLIC'S EXPECTATIONS OF SUCH."

Actually, papers are sent in ...hold that ...electronic listing of animals can as the calves are born. Since the dams of all animals are identified on the national records, we only have to eartag the calves (with a tamper proof tag) and send in the notice that they have been born and a name. The breeding dates and sire information are already in the records and are cross-checked for accuracy. Pictures or line drawings are optional, but are recommended in case the animal loses the tags. ALL animals from a Holstein sire are eligible for inclusion in the Holstein identification program. Papers include a %Reg. Holstein Assoc. number ( which is always rounded down, therefore there can be no "grade" animal which exceeds 99% RHA). Everything is handled electronically, and pictures are scanned on to the back of the registration program. Turn-around is less than a month. We pay $6 to $20 for this service.

The cow with BSE almost certainly was tagged and identified in Canada with the same system. A beef cow would have been much more difficult to trace. As it was, the governmentS did a lot of shuffling feet and hum hawing around.  Can you say "consumer confidence?"

Neal Grose
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mary Hansson 
  To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 4:37 PM
  Subject: [Jacob-list] tags and tracking


  Neal and all,

  Your comment that the BSE-positive animal now makes tagging effective for all animals is correct I am certain.  

  I also appreciated your comment regarding the unique coloration of Holstein cattle.  It got my mind a-wanderin'.  Holstein cattle would be an excellent group of animals to track based on coloring.  The government could go to the Holstein cattle registry and simply identify all cattle and movements (based on ownership changes that will be recorded each time an animal changes hands) and identify cattle based on these unique markings.  The information would be rapidly made available by the Holstein Cattle Registry by their registrar and an identification could be made within hours at the outside.  I like that idea.  It should work and be cost efficient as the registrars are usually paid a nominal fee or work on a volunteer basis.

  The idea would certainly work well for the Jacob Sheep population in this country as well.  We all know that ALL animals are registered and tracked, all ownership changes made known to either one or the other breed registries, and that the registrars from each organization are extremely prompt about getting identification of all animals and tracking their ownership/sale barn sales, etc updated.  Did somebody ask about even current existance of the JSC a couple days ago?  The JSC must still exist as a friend said her check from a couple months or so back was cashed for transfer/registry of sheep sold to me (not that I have seen any paperwork/communication coming my direction from that organization)....  My registry apps for 26 sheep sent in October have no paperwork back from the JSBA registrar yet either----    I am sure the Holstein Cattle Association (have no clue what that organization(s)'s name is......) is not much quicker.  The point:  TIMELINESS and THE PUBLIC'S EXPECTATIONS OF SUCH.

  Can any of us think for one minute that we would depend on Sally Q Public to come forward and say they had the dam to a nationally publicized scrapie positive ewe from Rocky V Balboa's flock a couple hundred miles away?  That would be a joke!

  There is no meaningful or reasonable argument that can be made for identification via spotting patterns (just think about the percentage of excellent photographs taken of animals that ARE actually submitted for registry and how secretive each organization is regarding the information presented and in their files regarding these animals) of any Jacob Sheep.  The alternative is a TRACKABLE means of identifying animals.  Therein lies the need for tagging, micro-chipping, tattooing, or some UNIVERSALLY trackable identification system.

  Mary Ellen



  Mary Ellen Hansson, MEd, RD, LDN
  ISeeSpots Farm
  Jacob Sheep: Lambs, adults, wool
  www.iseespots.com
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