[Jacob-list] tags and tracking

[Mary Hansson]

Neal and all,
 
Your comment that the BSE-positive animal now makes tagging effective for all animals is correct I am certain.  
 
I also appreciated your comment regarding the unique coloration of Holstein cattle.  It got my mind a-wanderin'.  Holstein cattle would be an excellent group of animals to track based on coloring.  The government could go to the Holstein cattle registry and simply identify all cattle and movements (based on ownership changes that will be recorded each time an animal changes hands) and identify cattle based on these unique markings.  The information would be rapidly made available by the Holstein Cattle Registry by their registrar and an identification could be made within hours at the outside.  I like that idea.  It should work and be cost efficient as the registrars are usually paid a nominal fee or work on a volunteer basis.
 
The idea would certainly work well for the Jacob Sheep population in this country as well.  We all know that ALL animals are registered and tracked, all ownership changes made known to either one or the other breed registries, and that the registrars from each organization are extremely prompt about getting identification of all animals and tracking their ownership/sale barn sales, etc updated.  Did somebody ask about even current existance of the JSC a couple days ago?  The JSC must still exist as a friend said her check from a couple months or so back was cashed for transfer/registry of sheep sold to me (not that I have seen any paperwork/communication coming my direction from that organization)....  My registry apps for 26 sheep sent in October have no paperwork back from the JSBA registrar yet either----    I am sure the Holstein Cattle Association (have no clue what that organization(s)'s name is......) is not much quicker.  The point:  TIMELINESS and THE PUBLIC'S EXPECTATIONS
 OF SUCH.
 
Can any of us think for one minute that we would depend on Sally Q Public to come forward and say they had the dam to a nationally publicized scrapie positive ewe from Rocky V Balboa's flock a couple hundred miles away?  That would be a joke!
 
There is no meaningful or reasonable argument that can be made for identification via spotting patterns (just think about the percentage of excellent photographs taken of animals that ARE actually submitted for registry and how secretive each organization is regarding the information presented and in their files regarding these animals) of any Jacob Sheep.  The alternative is a TRACKABLE means of identifying animals.  Therein lies the need for tagging, micro-chipping, tattooing, or some UNIVERSALLY trackable identification system.
 
Mary Ellen



Mary Ellen Hansson, MEd, RD, LDN
ISeeSpots Farm
Jacob Sheep:  Lambs, adults, wool
www.iseespots.com
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