Q. Does EID really work? Aren’t the electronic tags just for carefully controlled situations?

A. EID technology works. The later generations of electronic ear tags have proven themselves in real-world situations throughout the world. Today’s EID technology works in extreme heat, cold and moisture and can withstand the rugged bumps and scrapes of animal production.

Q. Are EID tags expensive? Why not just use a traditional plastic tag?

A. EID technology is best used as a tool for making management decisions. In order to justify the expense, each producer must decide how they'll use it. The automation of data collection and ability to easily transfer records from EID readers may actually represent a lower net cost per application when you calculate the cost of labor and possibility of error or lost information with visual identification. Depending on your source and your participation in a branding program or other integrated production scenario, your cost-per-tag can be much lower than you might expect.

Q. Does an EID tag stand on its own, or must it be part of a system?

A. Just as with visual tags, producers have a choice to capture as much or as little information as is needed. If you’re only recording birth weight or date, or sire or dam information, your “system” may be as simple as a yellow legal pad and pencil. EID gives you the option to more easily capture and manage data for performance characteristics from gate to plate. EID also facilitates the automatic capture and sharing of information with others as in private or official traceability programs. In its simplest application, an EID tag verifies animal identity electronically. When used as part of a performance or quality database, the resulting data can be a powerful tool to provide management information for improvement of genetics, enhanced feeding programs, and evaluation of other variables in animal production.

Q. Why use an EID tag instead of an electronic implant or bolus?

A. Implant migration to undesirable or undetectable locations in the animal is a problem for packers and consumers. Behavior of large animals can make it nearly impossible to read these devices. While implants have been satisfactory in small animal applications, they have not proven themselves in larger animals. A bolus is more costly and retrieval presents significant challenges. What are the advantages of EID?

• RFID eliminates the need for “line of sight” reading necessary with barcode systems. The signal can penetrate through body tissue, wood, plastic,mud, manure and more.
• RFID in this application is passive and therefore requires no battery, meaning it will last for the life of the animal.
• An aircoil antenna system encapsulated within a modified Allflex Small Female tag helps the transponder withstand environmental conditions.