Traceability

APHIS To Require Electronic Animal ID for Certain Cattle and Bison

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 18:29:58 GMT

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has taken another step toward limiting the impact of an outbreak of foreign animal diseases by amending and strengthening its animal disease traceability regulations for certain cattle and bison. By requiring electronic animal identification for certain cattle and bison, APHIS put into place the technology, tools and processes to help industry stakeholders quickly pinpoint and respond to a foreign animal disease outbreak.

“Rapid traceability in a disease outbreak will not only limit how long farms are quarantined, keep more animals from getting sick, and help ranchers and farmers get back to selling their products more quickly – but will help keep our markets open,” said Dr. Michael Watson, APHIS administrator.

APHIS said one to the rule’s most significant benefits for farmers and ranchers will be the enhanced ability of the United States to limit impacts of animal disease outbreaks to certain regions, which the agency called a “key to maintaining our foreign markets. By being able to readily prove disease-free status in non-affected regions of the United States, we will be able to request foreign trading partners recognize disease-free regions or zones instead of cutting off trade for the entire country. Traceability of animals is necessary to establish these disease-free zones and facilitate reestablishment of foreign and domestic market access with minimum delay in the wake of an animal disease event.”

The April announcement enhances a rule finalized in 2013 for the official identification of livestock and documentation for certain interstate movements of livestock.

The final rule applies to all sexually intact cattle and bison 18 months of age or older, all dairy cattle, cattle and bison of any age used for rodeo or recreation events, and cattle or bison of any age used for shows or exhibitions.

The rule requires official eartags to be visually and electronically readable for official use for interstate movement of certain cattle and bison, and revises and clarifies certain record requirements related to cattle.

“USDA’s final traceability rule updates the existing requirement for animal identification that has been in place since 2013, switching from solely visual tags to tags that are both electronically and visually readable for certain classes of cattle moving interstate,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president Mark Eisele, a Wyoming rancher.

“Many producers are already familiar with using these visual tags and under the new rule, they will instead use electronic tags. NCBA has worked hard to secure $15 million in funding for producers to reduce the cost of implementing this change. We also remain committed to safeguarding producers’ private data and continuing to reduce the cost of ear tags for farmers and ranchers. Our industry faces a tremendous threat from the risk of a future foreign animal disease on American soil. To avoid devastating financial losses during a potential outbreak and to help producers quickly return to commerce, we need an efficient animal disease traceability system.”

USDA said it is committed to implementing a modern animal disease traceability system that tracks animals from birth to slaughter using affordable technology that allows for quick tracing of sick and exposed animals to stop disease spread. USDA will continue to provide tags to producers free of charge to jumpstart efforts to enable the fastest possible response to a foreign animal disease.

To obtain electronic ID tags at no cost, APHIS directs producers to contact their State Veterinarian.

A copy of this rule may be viewed at the APHIS website, and the rule will be published in the Federal Register in the coming weeks. This rule will be effective 180 days after publication in the Federal Register.

To learn more about animal disease traceability and how APHIS responds to animal disease outbreaks, visit www.aphis.usda.gov.

8 Reasons Why Beef-on-Dairy Makes the Perfect Cross

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 19:44:38 GMT

The beef-on-dairy revolution is booming. What started as a trend more than a decade ago has quickly grown into a reliable profit stream for dairy farmers across the country. As milk prices continue to sink lower, more and more dairy producers are turning their attention to creating a healthy beef cross calf to generate additional income for their farms.

“Even though we’ve gotten to a position to where beef-on-dairy is becoming more well-known, the reality is dairymen have been beef producers all along – whether that’s been through cull cows are bull calves,” says Dale Woerner, Professor and Cargill Endowed Professor at Texas Tech University. “However, as beef prices have crept up, the beef-on-dairy segment has seen an explosion.”

Just five years ago there were approximately 25.4 million cattle fed through feedlots that were harvested year-over-year, according to Woerner. Traditionally, about 5.1 million of those animals had been purebred dairy heifers or steers. However, this number has seen a drastic change.

“Since 2018, we’ve seen a major shift with beef-on-dairy crossbreds. We don’t know exactly how many of these animals are coming through as crossbreds, but we’re confident that it’s over 3.25 to 3.5 million head of beef-on-dairy cross animals that used to be strictly purebred dairy,” Woerner says.

This proportion has grown tremendously within the last few years, and it is estimated that almost 23% of the total number of fed steers and heifers within the U.S. are actually coming from dairies.

So, what’s the reason for this recent spike? As a result of widespread drought across the mid- and southwest, the beef cow herd has shrunk significantly. However, with more and more dairies relying on beef-on-dairy calves to help turn a profit, these operations have helped fill the meat cases.

“The dairy segment of the beef industry has grown in significance the last few years even more so than it had traditionally,” Woerner adds. “It’s created the perfect storm and that’s why you’re seeing the exceptionally high values.”

As more dairy crossbreds make their way into the marketing chain, Woerner and his research team have closely examined the characteristics of these animals and the products they yield, compared to their full-blood dairy and beef cousins. Their findings regarding major performance and carcass data – via retrospective data evaluation, and their own research -- include:

Feedlot growth – Close-out data evaluations show that the average daily gain and feed-to-gain ratio of crossbreds is significantly better than Holsteins and similar to conventional beef cattle. Woerner said crossbred finishing times that are about 20% faster than Holsteins promote a positive message about sustainability because they produce the same amount of beef in a shorter timeframe and on less total feed.

Quality grade – The Texas Tech researchers found the percentage of crossbreds that grade Choice or higher is roughly equal to, if not better than, conventional beef animals. They appear to inherit the superior marbling capability of their Holstein ancestors but at a faster finishing pace.

Carcass yield -- Crossbreds have a lower dressing percentage than full-blood beef animals, at least partly because they are leaner and thus have lighter carcasses relative to their live weight. They have, on average, an intermediate fat thickness at the 12th rib between that of full-blood beef and dairy animals. Overall, they have higher red meat yield than dairy carcasses, and the best crossbreds are comparable to, or even better than, conventional beef cattle.

Eating quality – A recent study by Woerner’s group showed full-blood Holsteins still take first place in terms of tenderness, followed by crossbreds and then conventional beef. Crossbreds led among the three in terms of superior flavor, with the most “fat-like” and “buttery” flavor ratings. Overall, they were scored the second-most desirable in terms of eating quality behind Holsteins.

Meat color – A major downfall of traditional dairy beef is that it has a darker color and lacks the “cherry-red” appearance of conventional beef, which consumers prefer. The difference is so distinct that most retailers will not market dairy beef and conventional beef in the same meat case. The Texas Tech researchers found that crossbreeding removes the coloring problem, and also results in an additional 12-24 hours of color stability. “This is a huge change in our industry,” Woerner says. “Rather than segregating Holsteins, we can now sell crossbreds together with conventional cattle.”

Muscle shape – The smaller, narrower, and more angular shape of finished Holstein loins has long been a drawback for dairy beef. The Texas Tech researchers found that crossbred longissimus (loin) muscles are larger and rounder than Holsteins, and that consumers could not distinguish their shape compared to those from conventional beef cattle.

Consistency – Dairy animals produce a consistent supply of offspring year-round, which helps improve market stability. Today’s dairy cattle also are highly consistent genetically, creating potential for excellent offspring consistency with correct sire matings.

Traceability – “Record-keeping on U.S. dairies is superior to most conventional beef operations,” Woerner says. “That information on birthdate, performance data, and sire identification is highly valuable for branded beef programs and international markets.”

For more on beef-on-dairy, read:

MyAnIML Expands Predictive Health Platform Using Muzzles To Detect Disease

Wed, 10 May 2023 14:22:06 GMT

To better enable early disease prediction in cattle, agtech startup MyAnIML™ announced today a hardware update designed to support the implementation of its AI-enabled predictive health platform in commercial feedlot and dairy operations.

MyAnIML’s newly released Bluetooth-enabled cattle ear tag integrates geolocation and tracking capabilities with its powerful predictive health modeling technology to help producers manage the productivity and welfare of their herds cost-effectively.

MyAnIML’s patent-pending technology employs artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict a broad range of total health indicators using the industry’s first cattle facial - specifically muzzle - recognition library dataset, designed and built by MyAnIML. Together, the hardware and software stack offers the global beef and dairy industries a more precise method of herd health management when profit margins continue to be razor thin and the cost of meat, dairy and other food products remain high.

Based on a comprehensive analysis of cattle lost to diseases, cost of medical treatment and low productivity impacts, MyAnIML estimates the U.S. cattle industry loses approximately $200 billion annually. For example, just one disease, Bovine Respiratory (BRD), costs the U.S. feedlot industry up to $900 million annually in treatment costs although recent reports indicate that total industry losses from BRD are actually much higher when productivity losses are factored in, according to the American Society of Animal Science .

The MyAnIML platform successfully predicts cattle infected with BRD two to three days before visual symptoms are observed, allowing producers to isolate the animal and start earlier treatment. BRD is just one of many diseases and health metrics MyAnIML identifies days before other health technologies, using subtle changes in a cow’s muzzle as a health indicator.

“We know from advances in human biometrics and deep-learning technology that the face can be a reliable predictor of disease. Using the same concept, we can now “fingerprint” an individual cow’s muzzle to monitor its health and predict a variety of issues days in advance,” said Shekhar Gupta, MyAnIML’s founder and CEO, who discovered and commercialized the first-of-its-kind technology solution in animal agriculture. “By addressing symptoms early, we can better ensure the health and well-being of the entire herd for a more reliable and efficient food supply chain.”

Predictive Analytics Reduces Antibiotics Use and Creates More Resilient Supply Chains

In addition to preventing economically significant disease outbreaks, MyAnIML helps cattle producers use antibiotics more efficiently, reducing costs and inhibiting the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a rising concern amongst human health professionals.

More than 70% of all medically important antibiotics sold in the U.S. are used in livestock production. The cattle industry takes up the bulk of that demand, using antibiotics to treat sick animals and as a preventative measure. A typical 5000-head feedlot spends $250,000 annually on antibiotics just to preemptively treat calves for BRD, Gupta said.

“Antibiotics have been a powerful tool to keep U.S. herds healthy, but by identifying infected animals days earlier in the disease cycle, producers can use antibiotics more efficiently when they need to support a sick animal and reduce the need for preemptive antibiotics. It’s a win-win for producers and consumer health,” Gupta said.

AI and Bluetooth Ear Tags for Animal Agriculture Offer Immediate Benefits for Ranchers

MyAnIML’s bluetooth ear tag was developed specifically to help large-scale commercial feedlots and stockyards implement the MyAnIML predictive health technology into their day-to-day operations.

Unlike other ear tag technology in the marketplace, including RFID tags, the MyAnIML tag helps pen riders quickly find a specific animal in a pen simply by using their mobile device, saving hours of labor time and more rapidly removing sick animals from the herd.

“In a large-scale, or even small-scale system, being able to accurately predict a sick cow is a huge benefit. But the follow-up of finding that animal can be a huge problem,” said Nathan Leiker, a northwestern Kansas cow-calf and feedlot operator using the MyAnIML technology since early 2022. “MyAnIML’s Bluetooth ear tags connect the dots between disease prediction and animal identification. All I have to do is push a button on my phone and it takes me directly to the cow I want. It’s the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack with a magnet. “

How it works:

Cameras strategically mounted take multiple images of a cow’s muzzle daily, monitoring for changes.
These images are analyzed using AI and machine learning against a library of health indicators.
The rancher is emailed a health alert report, with ID specific to each animal flagged with a muzzle change.
Producers open the app to find a predicted sick animal’s location and once within 20 meters, use the app’s directional arrow and buzzing noise to lead them directly to the target animal.

Commercially available in the U.S. since 2022 with multiple large installations and pilot projects underway in 2023, MyAnIML has attracted interest internationally and plans rapid scale-up in the coming years. Ranchers or dairy producers interested in implementing the technology can visit myaniml.com for more information.

About MyAniML

MyAnIML, an AI startup for animal agriculture, invented and commercialized the first-of-its-kind platform for early disease prediction in cattle using facial recognition technology focused on a cow’s muzzle. The initial discovery is the product of intense curiosity and a sense of purpose by the founder, a computer scientist, and his wife, a physician. Founded in 2021, MyAnIML’s mission is to help ensure the health and well-being of cattle while ensuring an affordable and safe food supply. Partnering with veterinarians, land grant universities and ranchers, the company’s experience developing and scaling data platforms for other industries is now being applied to animal agriculture. For more information www.myaniml.com .

USDA Proposes Amendments to APHIS's Traceability Regulations

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 20:04:19 GMT

USDA published a proposed rule which would amend U.S. animal disease traceability regulations to require eartags in cattle and bison that are both visually and electronically readable — electronic identification (EID) tags.

Some changes have been made to a prior APHIS plan, including now the agency using the term EID tags instead of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. APHIS said that is to accommodate the potential for future technologies other than RFID relative to the tags.

Industry Responds

Ethan Lane, vice president of government affairs at NCBA, broke down the timeline for the transition to EID tags in Thursday’s AgriTalk.

“We currently have the RFID tag rule that we saw at the end of the Trump administration that took a three or four year period to ramp up and transition to,” Lane says. “This EID tag will go live as soon as it is finalized, which is likely to be a year to 18 months.”

What’s at Stake

The EID system is aimed at helping the U.S. cattle industry deal with the emergency response to animal disease events, with APHIS concluding that while foot and mouth disease (FMD) and other diseases have been largely excluded from the U.S., “exclusion of every high impact disease through every pathway of introduction is likely an unachievable task.”

Kent Bacus, NCBA’s executive director of government affairs, echoes APHIS, saying FMD is one of his association’s biggest concerns.

“We haven’t had a case of FMD in the U.S. since the 1920s, and there hasn’t been FMD in North America since the 1950s,” he says. “We have a very naive herd that would be devastated by FMD, as would other hoofed livestock.”

Disease management tactics aside, Bacus says the domino affect FMD would have on the supply chain that is continuously being soddered and broken would be “catastrophic.” He points to highly-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and African swine fever (ASF) as examples.

The Gameplan

Under the proposed rule, APHIS would require tags to be used that are both visually and electronically readable for interstate movement of cattle and bison six months after a final rule is published in the Federal Register.

Comments on the APHIS proposed rule are due Mar. 20. There is not yet a definitive date when the plan will finally be in place.

Animal ID and Actionable Data Go Hand in Hand

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 04:12:56 GMT

In the late 1980’s – only 30 or so years ago – a leading livestock identification company had a “major product launch” for a new marking pen. The ink would penetrate deep into the plastic tag, making the ID number “more permanent.” Prior to that point, producers used Marks-A-Lots and Sharpies that would last, maybe, for a year or so. For real permanence, we used a metal tag with a chiseled or stamped number, although they could wear out in time as well.

Fast forward through marking foils, inkjet and, ultimately, laser marking, the industry finally had tools to become proficient at animal identification. Market conditions – particularly the BSE issue in the UK and Europe, and the move toward full traceability in those markets – only served to accelerate this evolution. Laser-engraved barcodes were the first step toward automated ID capture – and soon thereafter, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) took it one step further. National systems in countries such as Australia and Canada made RFID a cornerstone technology, and producers came face-to-face with a new technology on the farm that begged the question, “what else can I do with this”? Important tasks, such as automated sorting, feed monitoring and milk recording on dairies all came to the forefront as producers saw new and creative ways to create value through this new technology.

That’s not to say it’s all about identification technology and proficiency – it is not. Data – more specifically, actionable data – emerged, and systems (database-centric system) to house this data, find correlations and optimize value came to the forefront. Age, source and attribute-verified systems allowed producers, from small operations to large, to produce what the market was asking for, and to get paid a premium for doing so. The underlying technology – RFID – be it low frequency, ultra-high frequency or anything in between, continued to evolve as well to meet producer’s specific wants and needs – and will continue to do so, perhaps even toward newer technologies, such retinal scanning, facial and body scanning, or other biometrics.

Proficiency is not a goal to be reached – it is an aspirational state that demands we make the most of the technologies and capabilities of all market participants. It has not only allowed us to identify and trace animals, but now, through the additive use of accelerometers, temperature sensors, ultrasound measurements, genomic test data and so much more, we are becoming far more knowledgeable about the well-being of the animals in our care, and how to optimize health as well as value. Today we see – and can manage – correlation between activity and pregnancy, stress and production, feed inputs and health and, ultimately, management actions and desired outcomes. As the dataset gets richer, so does our knowledge and our capabilities.

As we optimize production systems in our livestock operations, we still, in the U.S, wrestle with the value of using the underlying tools for traceability for disease monitoring and management. It’s a big topic, and one the industry has wrestled with for decades. In the early 1990s the Livestock Conservation Institute (predecessor to today’s National Institute for Animal Agriculture), established it’s first “ID Committee,” which attracted a small group looking to learn how to use much of this emerging technology. We’ve watched other nation’s build national traceability systems, and then use our lack of such as a ‘non-tariff trade barrier.’ Today, we still struggle with ‘if’ we want or need such a traceability system – and the answer remains in the hands of an industry that remains divided on that question. What is not in question, however, is whether we have the capability to have such a system – we absolutely do – and we are capable of using the core technologies that can make it happen.

In the end, it’s about optimizing every element of our vast animal agriculture industry to benefit the consumer, the producers and the animals in our care. Identification might seem like a small piece of this puzzle, but you cannot optimize what you cannot manage, you cannot manage what you cannot measure and you cannot measure what you cannot identify. Today, we can do all of this – and that’s true proficiency and sustainability. And we’re only getting started … and through continued innovation at every level, we’re only getting better.

As calf manager for Pagel’s Ponderosa in Kewaunee, Wis., Shawn Miller relies on actionable data. Collecting the necessary information starts with giving every calf an RFID tag at birth. To learn how Pagel’s puts technology to work, read:

Marrying Technology with Calf Management