21 CALF News • April | May 2022 • www.calfnews.net pan. (Tags are disposed of when the batteries die – they are not replaceable due to their waterproof encasement). The same antenna that sends health information back to the office detects batteries that are failing or dead and sends that information on, as well. Antennas work in a range of up to two miles. This is important to folks running yearlings on grass or cow-calf producers who may want to use the product. The tags have been tested thoroughly in feedlots, but stocker and cow outfits are still largely untried but expected to work well, depending on pasture size. Retrieving tags from finished cattle may sometimes need to be done at the packing plant, with a feedlot representative at hand. This will be done, no doubt, case-by-case. Advantages in Efficiency Pen riders operate during daylight, for obvious reasons. These ear tags are a 24/7 monitoring device that can literally 3 Sizes Available! The First Hydraulic Corral and still the Largest! • Pull on highway at speed limit. • Fits through any gate your pickup will. • Stable on uneven terrain. • Permanent sheeted adjustable alley. Rawhide Portable Corral 900 NORTHWASHINGTON ST., ABILENE, KS 67410 785.263.3436 www.rawhideportablecorral.com Rawhide Processor by John McDonald • Wheels on each panel and electric over hydraulic jack eliminates lifting—saves time. • Frame gates for sorting. • Transport wheels are permanent, no sliding off the axles and rolling out of the way. “watch” your cattle continuously. One perk is this product can identify cattle before they exhibit outward symptoms of illness, leading to a more efficient catch of sick stock, earlier treatment and more positive end results. pens per day on average when using SenseHub Feedlot ear tags, a 71 percent reduction. But What Does It Cost? Cost of each ear tag is $29, with an activation fee of $4.20 for each use. Studies done thus far indicate a two to four-fold benefit from the investment. By the numbers, these tags have a proven benefit of decreasing mortality by two percent. Payment can be made up front or conveniently arranged over time. Traditional observation of cattle will always be an important skill in bovine management. Feedlot personnel take a great deal of pride in their stockmanship abilities, often spanning generations. New technologies are here to add another dimension of skill, increase efficiency and help relieve labor shortages. It all adds up to greater holistic management, bettering the lives of our cattle and reducing risk to producers. Sick cattle will be wearing an illuminated and blinking ear tag. This solves searching the pen for pulls, finding tag numbers and stirring up the whole group. In a contemporary world, the labor situation seems to be in a turmoil. Savings in time for feedlot owners and personnel, as well as less stirring of cattle, will make for more prudent use of help and minimize stress on livestock. Research done at an Oklahoma feedyard showed that feedlot riders who observed cattle visually entered an average of 18 pens per day, compared with only 5.3
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