Holstein Association USA (HA) is encouraging all dairy producers to begin the transition to electronic animal identification. On January 1, 2023, virtually all dairy cattle will be required to have electronic ID to move interstate.
The only exceptions will be feeder cattle and male dairy cattle born before March 11, 2013.
The use of radio frequency identification (RFID) ear tags speeds up data collection and improves animal disease traceability, notes Darin Johnson, HA Dairy Identification Manager. “Holstein Association USA encourages dairymen to consider adding or switching to RFID ear tags with their next inventory tag order,” he says.
USDA will discontinue providing free metal tags at the end of this year. Approved vendors will still be able to produce official metal tags for one year.
