What’s the best reason to identify your livestock?


attle producers have a broad list of animal identifi cation systems from which to choose — anything from brands and tattoos to tags with or without radio frequency identifi cation (RFID) chips. But if the goal is to pre- vent theft, Larry Gray says branding is still the best option. “Branding is a permanent means of identifi cation,


not easily removed or defaced and, as well, can be seen from a distance,” says Gray, the Texas and Southwest- ern Cattle Raisers Association executive director of law enforcement and theft prevention. “There are some producers who have gone to ear tags


with electronic identifi cation devices in them, but you have to be within 4 to 5 feet for a reader to read those. And from a theft prevention viewpoint, the fi rst thing a cow thief does is cut any tags out of their ears. When he does that, there goes your identifi cation. “Same with ear tattoos. They’re a good means of


identifi cation, but they’re not visible. You have to put that animal in a chute and headgate and read those ear tattoos, even if they have them.” Gray says although tanneries complain the brand re-


duces the value of the hide, order buyers don’t discount cattle because they’re branded, so it’s not much of an issue for cow-calf producers.


MORE Johnson Herefords uses this distinctive brand to identify their cattle. 66 The Cattleman January 2014 thecattlemanmagazine.com


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