Beef Identification (RFID)

Starting March 1, 2007, all cattle leaving their Michigan premises must be tagged with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. Although the USDA has made the National Animal Identification System voluntary, Michigan premises registration and the Michigan Animal Identification System has been established to aid efforts in eradication of bovine tuberculosis and is mandatory.

Register Premises

You must have a premises identification number prior to purchasing official RFID tags. If you have completed a herd bovine tuberculosis test, you have already been assigned a premises identification number. To obtain a premises identification number, call the

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development at 517-284-5670 or register online.

To track animals, animal health officials must know where they are born and where they are moved. Therefore, uniquely identifying locations that manage or hold animals is the first step in traceability. Each premises in Michigan that participates in animal production and (or) commerce will be identified with a unique seven character identifier (for example, A123R69), called a premises identification number. This number is the same as that which will be used in the National Animal Identification System, developed by USDA. Information that will be associated with your premises identification number in MDARD’s database includes:

Name of Entity
Owner or Appropriate Contact Person
Street Address, City, Zip Code of the farm
Contact Phone Number Operation Type (e.g., farm, market, processor, etc.)

Order Tags

NorthStar Cooperative - If you have been assigned a premises identification number, you may order RFID tags, applicators, and accessories from NorthStar Cooperative at 800-631-3510. Producers may also visit the direct to order form.

Holstein Association USA - To obtain RFID tags, call the Holstein Association USA, Inc. at 800-952-5200 or visit them online.

Cattle Tags Online Store - 1-800-909-TAGS or http://www.cattletags.com. Cattle Tags also hosts online classes on using electronic ID for cattle management purposes.

Fact Sheets

Michigan Identification Requirement - Flow Charts - These flow-charts outline the identification requirements for cattle imported into Michigan and for cattle leaving a Michigan Farm.
Mandatory Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) of Cattle in Michigan - Starting March 1, 2007, all catle must be identified with an official radio frequency identification (RFID) ear tag prior to movement from a Michigan premises.
Mandatory Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) of Youth Project Cattle - All cattle, including those participating in shows and exhibitions or sales, must be identified before movement from their premises.
Radio Frequency Identification Ear Tag Application and Management - Radio frequency identification tags can be applied anytime following the birth of the animal. The applicator must be specifically made for the RFID tags to be used.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology for Cattle - Radio frequency identification (RFID) describes a system that wirelessly transmits the identity of an object, in the form of a unique sequence of numbers or letters, using radio waves. Although there are several types of RFID systems, this fact sheetdescribes the technology used in passive, low frequency RFID tag systems.
Selection Considerations for RFID Based Individual Beef Cattle Managment Systems - Before investing in the components of a radio frequency identification (RFID)-based individual animal management system, you need to consider several questions.

MSU Extension Beef