deciphering a cow's tags

Jcran · #1 08/25/07, 10:02 PM

I just brought home a Dexter cow...she has two metal tags in her right ear. One says Wash Ident and then some letters and numbers on the back. The other tag seems to be numbers. Is anyone out there familiar with the id system? Could I find out what herd she came from? She doesn't have papers but I would love to know her lineage. Right now she's a tad skittish and doesn't want to be touched around the head much. As she calms down and lets me handle her more, I'll get the rest of the info.

sugarbush · #2 08/26/07, 06:29 AM

The ear tags are not maintained in a database. If you call the Washington Dept of ag and give them the #s they should beable to tell you who the breeder was and than you would have to contact the breeder to get the other information you want. The ear with the wash id # should be the breeders # and the other # is for the individual cow. I am not sure about washinton state, but that is how other states work. I think once the national registry is operational and manditory there will be a database that can be searched, but the metal ear tags take leg work to track back.
Give her some grain in a bucket and she may hold sill long enough for you to write down the #s

Ken Scharabok · #3 08/26/07, 06:44 AM

Until recently TN livestock barns put a metal clip in each cow's ear as a Burk. test tracting number.

If they were registered, id should be tatooed inside ear.

Could they be part if NAIS?

sugarbush · #4 08/26/07, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Scharabok

Could they be part if NAIS?

I doubt it.....the program is voluntary right now and it seems unlikely that a six year old in California would have been done in Washington within the past two years on a voluntary basis. Maybe the tag is something the state requires if an animal leaves the state? I am betting that it is just the states registry system, but the easiest way to find out is to call the ag dept. Or hope somebody from Washington on here is familiar with their tagging system.

dosthouhavemilk · #5 08/26/07, 07:52 AM

Possibly a Bang's tag, since most State's require Bangs testing and vaccination for interstate travel.

needstoknowmore · #6 08/26/07, 08:54 AM

The tag with just numbers would be the Bangs vac tag. There will also be a tattoo in the ear to go with it!! This is required to leave the state!
Premise ID in this state was voluntary starting in 05. So the other tag could be for that? Some people jumped right on the bandwagon!!!!
The bangs vac tag is the only one that I know to be required.

bumpus · #7 08/26/07, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jcran

I just brought home a Dexter cow...she has two metal tags in her right ear. One says Wash Ident and then some letters and numbers on the back. The other tag seems to be numbers. Is anyone out there familiar with the id system? Could I find out what herd she came from? She doesn't have papers but I would love to know her lineage. Right now she's a tad skittish and doesn't want to be touched around the head much. As she calms down and lets me handle her more, I'll get the rest of the info.

In our state there are two tags.

One tag shows that the cow was vaccinated for bangs.

The other shows that she was tested and did not have bangs.

I would not remove them.

bumpus
.

Jcran · #8 08/26/07, 11:44 AM

I don't plan on removing the tags, but hoped they might give me the info to track her back to the breeder. The guy got her as a one year old. One of the tags is red metal as is: 9NWJ9775 The other tag, a regular silver tag is: 91ACA9099

I will try to call the Washington State Dept of Ag and see if they can help.

tinknal · #9 08/26/07, 12:06 PM

I doubt the farmer would be able to tell you much from a bangs tag, unless he bred only a small number of cattle. Have you looked for a tattoo in the ear? Most farmers who keep good records use tattoos to ID cows. Ear tags tend to fall out. You may need to clean the inner ear with alcohol to see the tattoo.

needstoknowmore · #10 08/26/07, 12:42 PM

my bangs vac tags start with the number 91 then have 3 letters and 4 numbers. So I would guess that is the bangs tag! my tags are colored but it is coming off and they haven't even been on a year yet. If they loose the bangs vac tag, they look at the tatoo in the same ear and will issue a new tag!

Try the WSDA website. might be able to give you more info or at least where to call!!! http://agr.wa.gov/

Jcran · #11 08/26/07, 02:07 PM

Thanks, yep, I accessed their site and sent a generic question; we'll see if anyone responds.