Issue 4 - February 2006

The times - they are a changin'. 

In the past, Herd Mentality has reviewed challenges and opportunities that a mandatory shift to tagging cattle might present.  In doing so, we discovered that while there are many systems to choose from, they, for the most part, are very similar.  Our research of the tag products currently on the market brought to light an opportunity that is not only unique, it's one that can also create new avenues for users to obtain extra revenue and increase efficiency for their business.  

While Animal Profiling International remains dedicated to filling the role of the premier cattle profiling company in America - we believe that we have seen the future in animal tracing.  On January 26th, API introduced its new WriteTAG System.  The WriteTAG System is the only low-frequency system in the industry that allows users to read and write directly onto the tag animal data ranging from age and source to the ability to track vital details over the history of an animal.  No central database is necessary.  Easy-to-use herd management software and proprietary hardware allows producers to control viewable data, accentuating privacy with the ability to place password protection on encrypted data.  At approximately the same entry price point as other electronic ear tags, the WriteTAG System allows the end-user to achieve premiums the marketplace is paying, while enabling producers to meet requirements being set up by national and state organizations.  The WriteTAG System helps both small and large operations save time and accentuate their return on investment with a system that provides extended capabilities.   

API welcomes you to take an in-depth look at the WriteTAG System.  Please visit http://www.writetag.com/.  

The focus of the articles below is on animal identification.  Again, our goal is to provide our readers with the critical information that is available today.  In addition, we'll continue to set our sights on the upside that animal identification can provide those operations that strive to be "ahead of the curve".  Risk in business is always a frightening prospect, but it is also the lifeblood of any successful market shift. 

If you're interested in finding out more about Animal Profiling International (API), please visit our website.  We hope you enjoy the following information and look forward to any feedback that you have.  Thanks for reading.

Regards,

Bruce W. Hoffman, DVM
President
Animal Profiling International, Inc.

Technical Report on RFID

AIM Global recently released this Technical Report on RFID for Food Animal ID in North America.  The report was developed in response to the U.S. and Canadian mandates on tracking cattle.  "Recommendations in the Technical Report include provision for pertinent data to be recorded directly in memory on the ear tag, speeding data collection and animal identification."  While the reports adds that read/write capabilities are not available on current LF systems - the WriteTAG System now provides the only LF tag that has the ability to record data directly to the ear tag.   

Read the report

 
ID Q&A
 
BEEF Magazine's December issue dedicated to Animal ID included this basic list of frequently asked questions on identification.  Included within are the basic guidelines that the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is aiming to achieve along with more specific questions.  We also recommend reading additional ID information outside this article - provided at http://www.idcattle.com/ - a website sponsored by BEEF Magazine.
 
 

Seeing the Bigger Picture

The global marketplace is demanding traceability.  Why has America been so slow to react?  BEEF Magazine contributing editor, Troy Marshall, sheds some light on the difficulties the American cattle industry has had at adopting individual identification.  Instead of focusing on the problems, Marshall examines the opportunity traceability presents to the U.S. producer. 

Read the article

Japan Reopens Borders to U.S. Beef... and then CLOSES IT.

Drovers reports on U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns' strong comments to the U.S. beef industry after the Japanese market closed their doors again to beef produced in the U.S. "I have directed that additional USDA inspectors be sent to every plant that is approved to export beef to review procedures and ensure compliance with our export agreements and I am requiring that two USDA inspectors review every shipment of U.S. beef for export to confirm that compliance.  I have also ordered unannounced inspections at every plant approved for beef export."        

Read the comments

A Moot Point?  Or a Moo Point?

While the National ID effort may be losing steam, Troy Marshall analyzes the changes resulting from select innovators in the cattle industry adopting and accepting ID.  "Our foreign market situation has prompted some of our largest beef customers to require source-, and/or source- and age-, verified cattle.  Even with a second interruption in the Japan market, significant premiums are emerging for source- and age-verified cattle today."  Marshall also notes that while these premiums won't last forever, source-verification may simply become a cost of doing business as non-verified cattle would be discounted in the future.  An interesting look on how something that may no longer be "mandatory" - remains mandatory.

Read the article

 
API - In the News
 
January's edition of BEEF Magazine focuses an article on us - Animal Profiling International.  We hope you take an opportunity to read how the media in the cattle industry views our company.   
 
 

FeedBack?

If you have any comments about the information in this newsletter, e-mail us at hq@animalprofiling.com.  We want to hear from you.

© 2005. Herd Mentality is produced and distributed by Animal Profiling International, Inc.,  a technology company dedicated to animal health.  You can subscribe to the newsletter at the Animal Profiling International Website.