Challenges of Animal Identification in the West

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Challenges of Animal Identification in the West

• Prepared by
• Russell Tronstad, Ph.D.
• Professor and Extension Specialist
• Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
• University of Arizona
• 520-621-2425
• Email tronstad_at_ag.arizona.edu

Western Extension Marketing Committee
Western Center for Risk Management Education
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Unique Issues for West

• Geographic terrain
• Land ownership
• Production-management systems
• Summer and winter ranges
• Grazing associations
• Multiple herds in same pasture
• Tribal herds

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Long-Term Precipitation
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Beef Calf Crop, 2004
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40
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Western Settlement History

• After Civil War
• Miners, Loggers, Railroaders, and Settlers
• Longhorn Cattle
• drive over long stretches with no water
• Settlement Acts
• Forest Service (1905)
• Department of Interior

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Land Ownership of U.S.
47 of land is federally managed in the West
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Geographic Production Challenges

• Rugged terrain
• Stocking density of West
• Large distances between summer and winter
  ranges
• Wildlife interactions
• Drought frequency and associated cattle
  movements

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Ownership Challenges

• Owners with multiple ranch locations
• Cattle with multiple owners
• Branding and Brand Inspections
• insufficient for traceback
• Intermingling of cattle herds in summer grazing
  ranges

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People Challenges

• Independent nature of individuals.
• Skepticism among Native Americans
• Animal IDs / Tribal Producers
• Importance of encryption
• Time to Implement

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Summary

• An animal ID system needs to fit within existing
  ranch activities and operations
• Animal ID needs to compliment ranch management
  activities to be cost effective
• Brands and brand inspection laws in the West are
  insufficient for trace back of U.S.s food supply