Nebraska Cattlemen Provides Producers with
Individual ID System -- Available to Cattlemen Nationwide
In June of 2003, Nebraska Cattlemen's association reached an agreement
with APEIS, a Norfolk, Neb. company, to provide the system. BEEFTrax
allows producers to manage individual-animal data for their herds
while creating a source-verifiable, electronically identified supply
of cattle. Producers also will be able to benchmark their animals
against others in the BEEFTrax system.
The BEEFTrax system is designed around electronic animal identification.
Producers can purchase external electronic ear tags on line. The tag
numbers are added to a central database and shipped to the producer.
The producer then can log on to a secure website and enter production
data on individual animals or groups. Only the producer who purchases
the tags controls access to individual production data added to the
system. They can perform day-to-day recordkeeping functions such as
entering weights, vaccinations, treatments and other procedures, as
well as make performance calculations, genetic evaluations and track
individual animal performance.
The ear tags also will help producers establish cattle origin to comply
with the government's pending country of origin labeling program.
Owners of the ear tags will be able to transfer ownership of the tags
at no additional cost whenever cattle are sold. Production data can
also be transferred.
After meeting with several of the nation's leading animal-ID and data-management
firms, NC decided the BEEFTrax system was the most appropriate for
assisting producers with current and future cattle-marketing challenges.
NC leaders solicited proposals from five animal-ID companies. After
careful review and discussion, they selected the BEEFTrax system,
said NC President Jim Hanna of Brownlee.
"We felt it was important to offer an affordable animal-ID and
data-management alternative as broadly as possible," Hanna said.
"Cattle producers from Nebraska and across the nation can choose
to participate in BEEFTrax, regardless of association membership status."
The system will also help producers meet Country of Origin Labeling
in the future. For more information, contact the Nebraska Cattlemen
office at 402/475-2333.(c) ©
