Breedtag
FACT SHEET
www.pir.sa.gov.au/factsheets
FS 9/00
On farm use of Breeder and Post breeder tags
National Livestock Identification Scheme
Breeder and Post-breeder tags are electronic ear tags, designed to permanently identify cattle.
These tags form part of the National Livestock Identification Scheme (NLIS) which is a cattle industry initiative, supported by State and Commonwealth Governments.
Breeder tags are used by producers to permanently identify cattle they have bred. Breeder tags are white in colour.
Post-breeder tags are used by producers to permanently identify cattle they did not breed.
Post-breeder tags are orange in colour.
On-farm use of electronic identification
Breeder and Post-breeder tags contain a transponder (microchip) encoded with a unique number which can be read electronically by dairy farmers and beef producers who choose to purchase a suitable reader.
By linking the transponder reader with a suitably programmed computer, dairy farmers and beef producers can use Breeder and Post-breeder tags to improve the management of their herds.
Possible uses for Breeder and Post-breeder tags are listed below:
Dairy farms
With a suitably installed reader, the electronic tags attached to cows can be read as they move onto a rotary platform or into the bails of a herringbone shed. This then allows:
• Electronic identification of cows at milking.
• Simplified herd recording.
• Automatic drafting.
• Automatic weighing.
• Computer controlled feeding.
• Milk production recording.
• Computerised storage of breeding and veterinary treatment records.
• Automatic identification of cows that need to be milked separately.
Beef properties
On beef properties, a fixed reader can be attached to a race, crush or scales and used to record cattle as they enter and leave. On many properties, it may be possible for producers to use a hand held reader in place of a fixed reader, although hand held readers have a limited read range. On beef properties, electronic identification can be used to:
• Maintain herd records.
• Accurately and quickly weigh cattle.
• Maintain records on chemical treatments.
• Provide a back-up if a larger management ear tag is lost.
• Accurately identify bred from purchased cattle, which may become important for market
access.
• Complement quality assurance initiatives such as CATTLECARE by improving cattle
identification.
• Enable future linkages to saleyards, feedlots and abattoirs.
Reader types
The Breeder and Post-breeder tags currently available under NLIS contain a half-duplex (HDX) transponder. It is likely that at some point in the future, Breeder and Post-breeder tags containing full duplex (FDX-B) transponders will be approved for use as part of the NLIS.
Beef producers and dairy farmers should give consideration to installing readers which can be upgraded at a future date to become dual readers (capable of reading both HDX and FDX-B transponders), or alternatively, installing dual readers when establishing their on-farm electronic
herd management systems.
Use of breeder and post-breeder tags
Breeder and Post-Breeder tags must be placed in the right (off-side) ear of cattle. Breeder and Post-breeder tags should not be removed from cattle by the breeder or any subsequent owner.
Reader and software suppliers
Companies that supply reading equipment and computer hardware and software to beef producers and dairy farmers are listed in Table 1 below. Primary Industries and Resources SA and NLIS do not endorse the companies listed, or recommend any particular company. There may be other companies that are not listed in Table 1 that can provide similar services.
Table 1: Companies supplying reader hardware and software
| ALEIS INTERNATIONAL John & Dorothy Finlayson 242 Leitchs Rd Brendale Qld 4500 Phone 07 3205 9842 Fax 07 3205 9852 Hand held and fixed HDX readers |
ALLFLEX AUSTRALIA Greg Delbridge 12 Steel Place Morningside Qld 4170 Phone 07 3899 9055 Fax 07 3899 9034 Hand held readers Dual HDX and FDX-B |
DALTON SUPPLIES AUST Geoff Hooper PO Box 5065 Woolgoolga NSW 2456 Phone 02 6654 1577 Fax 02 6654 2066 Hand held and fixed readers – Dual |
AGINFOLINK AUSTRALASIA GPO Box 2452 BRISBANE QLD 4001 Phone (07) 3831 7330 Fax (07) 3832 7298 Hand held readers available (Beef) |
| ANIMAL LIFE PTY LTD John Brady 5 Rundell St Alexandra Hills Qld 4161 Phone 07 3824 1546 Fax 07 3824 1553 Fixed HDX reader |
A.C.E Dairy PO Box 787 KYABRAM VIC 3619 Phone (03) 5853 2599 Fax (03) 5853 2811 Hand held readers available (Dairy) |
CHIS |
AGFECS 1 Partidge Road BENGER WA 6223 Phone (08) 9726 9294 Fax (08) 9726 9200 |
| DROVERS AY ONE PTY LTD Jim Norris PO Box 93 Dungog NSW 2420 Phone 02 4992 3111 Fax 02 4992 3244 Hand held and fixed readers – Dual |
GALLAGHER LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (agent for Ruddweigh) PO Box 122 Rydalmere NSW 2116 Phone (02) 9684 1777 Fax (02) 9684 2412 (Beef) |
GESIMPEX COMMERCIAL SL Killian Romero C/ Pau Claris 165 5A C D 08037 Barcelona Spain Phone 34 93 487 8599 Fax 34 93 215 3808 |
LEADER PRODUCTS Bruce Dumbrell Hume Highway Craigieburn VIC 3064 Phone 03 9308 2355 Fax 03 9308 3486 Fixed and hand held readers – Dual |
| NEDAP AGRI BV Epi Postma Zelhemseweg 22 A 7255 PT Helgelo (GLD) Holland Phone 31 575 468 600 Fax 31 575 468 725 |
ON FARM ELECTRONICS Andrew Laidlaw Level 1, 54 Malop St Geelong VIC 3220 Phone 03 5229 6617 Fax 03 5222 6562 Fixed readers in HDX |
National Livestock Identification Scheme |
Further information
For further information about the National Livestock Identification Scheme, or about the Breeder
and Post-breeder Devices contact your local district office of Primary Industries and Resources
SA.
Last update: June, 2003
Agdex: 400/28
Author:
Denice Rendell, Project Manager, Livestock Identification.
Disclaimer
Use of the information in this Fact Sheet is at your own risk. The Department of Primary Industries and Resources and its employees do not warrant or make any representation regarding the use, or results of the use, of the information contained herein in terms of its suitability, correctness, accuracy, reliability, currency or otherwise. The entire risk of the implementation of the information which has been provided to you is assumed by you. All liability or responsibility to any person using the information is expressly disclaimed by the Department of Primary Industries and Resources and its employees.
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- Page Last Modified: November 8, 2011