The Office of Management and Budget has received a notice from USDA APHIS on the use of Radio Frequency Identification tags as official identification for cattle and bison. The South Dakota Stock Grower’s Association is opposing the move to RFID only mandated identification. ID Committee member Kenny Fox says they’ve already submitted public comments against the idea.
One of the primary purposes for identifying cattle and bison is for disease traceability. APHIS officials say that starting January 1, 2023, RFID tags would be the only devices for cattle and bison. Fox says his group wants multiple forms of i-d allowed.
He says they’re challenging the move by USDA APHIS to RFID tags only in the courts and will continue that fight.
Fox says retention is extremely high with the metal identification tags which means they’re much more efficient than RFID tags.
