USDA will begin offering the option of no-cost RFID ear tags for use in cattle or bison breeding animals.
The tags are expected to be available in late March or April.
The free tags will be offered as an alternative to the silver metal Brite tags and orange metal Official Calfhood Vaccination tags.
“We don’t keep paper documents like Certificates of Veterinary Inspection or laboratory test results anymore,” said Colorado State Veterinarian Keith Roehr.
“All of our livestock health data is kept electronically in the USAHERDS database where it can be quickly searched during disease events.”
The tags will not be mandatory, rather an option for producers.
