Minnesota DHIA News

A PUBLICATION OF MINNESOTA DHIA                                                   Volume 6, Issue 2                                                               February 2006

RFID Tags available from DHIA

The bovine industry has settled on Radio Frequency chipped eartags as the best management practice for the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). RFID technology has been in the news a lot lately, with the Defense Department and Walmart both requiring their suppliers to RFID tag all shipments. 

The tag that we will be using for bovines in the NAIS system is a button tag, about the size of a silver dollar.  That tag contains an RFID chip which is about the size of a grain of rice.  That chip contains ONLY the 15 digit unique animal identification number.  There is a long piece of copper wire that is wound around inside the tag. It is connected to the chip and serves as an antenna. 

The chip is passive, containing no power source.  The number contained on the chip is picked up when a special RFID reader tuned to the precise frequency of the tag sends a signal exciting the chip.  The tag is designed for one time use, and cannot be programmed or removed from the cow.  The 15 digit number is written on the outside of the tag, in the rare event that the number cannot be read electronically.  Your Premise number is considered confidential information and should not be printed on the tag, and cannot be included electronically.  Tracking of premises will be done in the confidential database. 

Cutout of RFID tag showing the chip and copper spool of wire (left),

and the outside appearance of the female half of the RFID tag (right)

If you order 50 tags, you will get a free tag applicator.  You do not get to choose the color or numbers on the tags.  Minnesota DHIA handles RFID tags from ZeeTag, Fearing (Digital Angel), and All Flex.  All tags are $2.50 each, plus shipping and sales tax.  Please have your Premise ID ready when you call to order tags,

We also offer all sizes of management tags, including button tags that do not contain RFID chips.  Many customers have used the button tags in place of steel tags for years, due to ease of readability and the high tag retention rate of the button tags.  You can order RFID tags in tandem with management tags, with the RFID number or bar code containing that number included on your corresponding management tag.

Producers will be able to continue to use the steel tags for a short period of time, and may need to retag young animals in the future when it is not so easy to tag them.  USDA will accept the non-RFID button tags with the 8-digit American ID printed on them for at least the next few years.

Animals will need to be tagged before they leave the farm of origin, and the tags will be assigned to a premise when ordered from the manufacturer.  This pretty much eliminates DHIA personnel from the tagging system.  DHIA’s role will be to demonstrate proper tag placement, provide educational information, record and report animal movement for producers who wish DHIA to do that for them, make tags available to customers, and provide a seamless tracking system so that DHIA producers will see little change, other than using a different tag.  Much of this is already in place in the Minnesota DHIA system.

Tag should be inserted in the left ear, close to head, between the middle two cartilage ribs, with numbers on the inside

National Animal Identification System (NAIS) Update

We are now able to handle the Premise ID number(s) in the Field Rep computers.  Please give your Premise ID to your Field Rep on sample day only if you would like DHIA to forward basic data to the state systems.  We are currently working with the Board of Animal Health to submit the minimal transaction data (animals sold or purchased, animals retagged, and tags assigned to your premise) for those herds who want to start participating.  Minnesota law protects the data in the system from being accessed by any private entity.

New Processing System

Effective with sample days in 2006, DHIA reports are now being processed in the long awaited “New System” that has been developed over the last 5 years by AgriTech Analytics (ATA) of Visalia California, in close cooperation with Minnesota DHIA.  Please call us at 800.827.3442 if you see any problems with your reports out of the new system.

For the first few months of the phase in, here are some of the changes you will note:

1. Record calculations are being made using the Best Prediction method, developed by USDA to better calculate estimated cows and cows with gaps in sample days and missing sample results.  You may see a small change in your Rolling Herd Average because of the use of this new method.  Simply put, Best Prediction uses the herd and cow history, as well as expected milk, to estimate missing production or components.  In the old Test Interval calculation, a sick cow had her production estimated based on a percentage of the last test, which almost always underestimated her production.  Also in the old system, a cow with a missing sample had the previous sample value used to calculate the record until the next good sample day.  In come cases, a cow in early lactation would have a very high fat test.  If she were not sampled again for 60 to 90 days or longer, that high first test would create an artificially high fat record.  The Best Prediction method handles this kind of data better and more fairly.
2. The Pregnancy Rate that appears in the Pregnant Animals section of the Reproduction Summary on the Herd Summary is now calculated differently.  Preg rate is best explained as the % chance that an average open cow past the voluntary wait period will become pregnant in the next 21 days. The calculation can be performed independently of heat detection rate and conception rate, but does require the reporting of the results of pregnancy exams in a timely manner. The old calculation started with the first time a cow was bred, resulting in some data that was slightly rosier than reality.  The current average Pregnancy Rate (new calculation) is 13%.
3. MUN values now appear on the Condensed Report.  Changes in the report include MUN in the Rolling Herd Average section at the bottom of page one, and a new summary section on the top of page 2 that includes breakdowns by lactation, stage of lactation, and pen.  Individual MUN values are listed with other production data in the body of the report.  The old multi-page MUN report has been discontinued.  The condensed report is included in electronic form to all consultants who access your herd data from DHIA’s Loop system.

Free Lunch

The District DHIA discussion meetings are scheduled a little earlier this year, thanks to the efficiency of our auditor.  This year’s agenda items include the National ID system (we’ll have tags, readers, and prices), new reports and report options out of the new processing system, Fax and Email options and price discussions, Johne’s testing using DHIA milk samples, recognition and awards discussions (as in do away with), optional health data reporting and benefits, and calculating value of product.

All meetings start at 11:45 with lunch.  All districts will elect delegates to the Minnesota DHIA Annual Meeting at Cabela’s in Rogers on Thursday March 23, 2006. Please call Minnesota DHIA with any questions.  District Meetings are open to all members, and local board members are encouraged to attend.  Please come prepared to share your opinions in order to earn your free lunch.  You do not need to be a resident of the district to attend that meeting.  Feel free to attend where convenient.

Northwest District - Becker, Beltrami, Clay, Clearwater, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of The Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Ottertail, Roseau, Wadena, and Wilkin Counties

     February 16 at Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen  218.935.2701

Election of  an alternate for a 1 year term, replacing Chuck Arvidson

Northeast District -  Anoka, Aitkin, Barron*, Benton, Cass, Carlton, Crow Wing, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Ramsey, Sherburne, St Louis, and Washburn* Counties    

Feb 22 at the Barbara Jeans Embers in Milaca (Highway 169 x  23)         320.983.6288

Central District – Stearns

February 23 at Gerard’s In Sauk Centre  320-351-3463

South Central District - Dodge, Goodhue, Mower, Rice, Steele, and Wabasha Counties

February  24 at Digger's in Kasson (Highway 14) 507.634.7400                           

Southwest District - Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Freeborn, Jackson, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, Sibley, Waseca, and Watonwan     Feb 21 at Carl’s in Essig     

Scholarship Winners announced

National DHIA has announced its 25 scholarship winners for 2006, and 10 are from the Minnesota DHIA family.  We added another 5 scholarships to bring the total to 15 awards of $500 each to these most worthy recipients. Congratulations to the winners and the parents.

Jessica Achen          Daughter of Craig and Cindy Achen

Jennifer Becker        Daughter of Joseph and Karen Becker

Rachel Becker         Daughter of Joseph and Karen Becker  

Alicia Metz              Daughter of Jeff Metz

Ann Miron               Daughter of Francis and Mary Ann Miron

Shannon Molitor       Daughter of Ronald and Laurie Molitor

Cheryl Petzel            Daughter of Curtis and Judy Petzel

Justin Reeck             Son of Gary and Lu Reeck

Laura Reiter             Daughter of Craig and Kathy Reiter

Cole Rupprecht        Son of Dale Rupprecht

Jennifer Salzer          Daughter of Arthur and Sharon Salzer 

Errica Seitzer           Daughter of Jerry and Carol Seitzer

Jonathon Schefers    Son of Ken and Julie Schefers (MN)

Alysha Thompson     Daughter of Lee and Kim Thompson     (MN     

Tim Zweber             Son of Jon and Lisa Zweber    (MN)

Congratulations to January Milk Quality Leaders

		SCC			SCC
DAN AND JOLENE SCHLANGEN	EDEN VALLEY	36	KEITH ROOT	NEW RICHLAND	92
JULIAN + DAVID SJOSTROM	PELICAN RAPIDS	39	TONY STAEBLER	MORRIS	92
ROBERT SLATER	MAHTOWA	39	JIM STORTZ	MABEL	93
NORBERT BROWN	GREY EAGLE	41	DALE + BRENDA GOEBEL	FREEPORT	93
DAVID BUCK	DENNISON	47	CHARLES NELSON	CUMBERLAND	94
DAVID SCHUUR	SAUK CENTRE	49	JOHN W WENNINGER	LAFAYETTE	94
LARRY AND SHARON WISTE	SPRING GROVE	50	HARVEY + TIM HINRICHS	GOODHUE	94
CRONK DAIRY	HENNING	50	RUIS-ING SUN DAIRY	MILACA	94
SWENSON DAIRY	CROMWELL	52	RON HEMMESCH	MELROSE	94
SCHEFERS BROS	PAYNESVILLE	55	CHELSEA HOLSTEINS	GLENCOE	96
KEVIN ANDERSON	BATTLE LAKE	57	MARK KLEHR	BELLE PLAINE	96
PRAHL DAIRY	SUNBURG	58	JONATHAN SEIFERT	SLEEPY EYE	96
BOB & TERRI KETCHUM	UTICA	62	PAUL & MARY ZIMMERMAN	BROOTEN	97
SELKE FARMS	DAKOTA	63	RON AMY SHAWN BEMBOOM	GILMAN	97
WALLACE + ROGER BRADLEY	LANESBORO	67	THORMODSON FARMS	DALTON	97
FRANK PATRICK	RICE	67	MIKE & PAT BERNECKER	PRAIRE FARM	98
DUANE CAROL DENNIS HAIBY	PELICAN RAPIDS	70	DANIEL HALLBERG	KANDIYOHI	98
ROGER + WENDY SORENSON	EAGLE BEND	71	MATT KUNZA	PERHAM	98
JAVA FARM	CLEAR LAKE	72	PEDERSONS Y-ME RANCH	HAYWARD	99
SAPA SKA FARM INC	LAKE CITY	72	BIRCH POINT FARMS PESHON	MINNESKA	99
GLENARD AND MARK TESSMER	ROGERS	73	BREEZY WILLOWS DAIRY	DOVER	100
SCOTT FELDHACKER	HILLSDALE	73	BRUCE AND WENDY HILKE	ALTURA	100
DEWEY HERBER	ROLLINGSTONE	73	STEVE MARTIN	FINLAYSON	100
JEFF BLENKER	ALBANY	74	HCL FARMS	LITTLE FALLS	100
DEAN RAUSCH	RICHMOND	74	JAMES AND PAUL GREGORY	BELGRADE	101
DAVE STEMIG	JORDAN	76	JEROME LEE	NEW RICHLAND	102
EARL FELLING	ALBANY	77	DAVID SMITH	DENT	102
LYLE AND WANDA/HONEBRINK	MAYER	77	STAN WURTZBERGER	NEW ULM	102
CHRISTY EN CHRISTOPHERSON	WORTHINGTON	77	ZUMBRO VIEW FARMS LLC	ZUMBROTA	102
LAYNE JANIKE	MINNESOTA LAKE	78	STONY CREEK DAIRY	BELGRADE	102
KB HILLSIDE DAIRY	GREEN ISLE	78	WILFRED+JUDY BLONIGEN	FREEPORT	102
MARK & CARLA BRUNHOLZL	LAKE CITY	80	JOPPS CENTURY FARMS	MAYER	103
ROBERT RAMONA WIPPLER	PARKERS PRAIRIE	80	MICHAEL BRUCE	PINE ISLAND	103
PETERMARK HENDRICKSON	MENAHGA	80	CORY DAHLER	FOLEY	106
RICHARD/SCHNOBRICH	NEW ULM	81	LYNN WAEGE	SOUTH SHORE	106
PATRICK BRODEEN	COOK	82	DELBERT KRUEGER	ALEXANDRIA	107
SIBERT FARMS	HEWITT	85	DALE SEYKORA	OWATONNA	107
HAPPKE HOLSTEIN FARM	PIERZ	85	PETER SKAJ	ST  JOSEPH	107
KIMM'S DAIRY	PELICAN RAPIDS	85	KIRK BENGTSON	BUFFALO	107
LESLIE + DARRYL FLOM	DENNISON	85	GALE HOESE	GLENCOE	107
SHAWN/BERGEY	HARMONY	86	JOHNSON TURKEY + DAIRY/	PELICAN RAPIDS	108
KENNETH ANDERSON	SPRING GROVE	87	JOE MILLER	PLAINVIEW	108
JAMES M TESSMER	LORETTO	87	METOGGA LAKE DAIRY LLC	NEW PRAGUE	108