Zee Tags General Manager Todd Howell says the XCEL request came through in January 2004 and we had a solution up and running by June of that year.  The adaptations we made to our existing product in conjunction with XCEL have virtually bomb-proofed our identification systems and taken ID to a new level – we can now record data directly onto a spreadsheet for downloading where ever and whenever it is required”.

XCEL is currently exporting in excess of 15,000 dairy cows per annum and one animal misread or failing a blood test can cause the withdrawal of an entire shipment.

XCEL Project Manager Malcolm Fechney says “Compliance in regard to food safety and traceability is an important part of our business and it’s crucial we get it right every time.”

The company was looking for a two tag system – a visual tag and RFID (electronic identification).  Malcolm says having the Duramark^®  visual tag as well as RFID provides a fail-proof identification system for stock with all the advantages of RFID.

The Duramark^® tag has a clear lacquered surface containing built in UV protection which means the bold, black print stays visible.  A special bonded surface keeps the tag cleaner and easy to read from a distance.  The Zee Tag RFID button is small and unobtrusive yet can be automatically read as cattle are handled allowing data to be collected and used for management and verification purposes.

“The RFID tag system is a big time saver - we recently pushed through 2500 animals in five hours which represents a huge saving in time over other systems.  The electronic reader picks up every animal and collects all the data we require such as health, pregnancy status or genetic history.  From there the history of each animal can be downloaded straight into an integrated spreadsheet and emailed anywhere in the world”.

Retentions of tags is critical too which is one reason we approached Zee Tags Ltd – their tags are an excellent design and retention rates are very high.  The Zee Tags tagger are easy to use and the swivel pin means no ripped ears.

Malcolm says an audio alarm is built into the RFID reader that will immediately alert staff to any problem with an animal on the spot rather than having to go back through the mob later.  This type of facility allows animals to be either automatically or manually sorted on pre set criteria.

AgriQuality Wanganui spokesperson Chris Carter says every country New Zealand exports stock to has their own set of protocols and the company must comply with all their individual requirements – “this involves numerous tests and proof of eligibility for final export”.

“Correctly identifying the animal is just one proponent but a very important one – a complete record of tests is supplied, certifying health status and genetic history of every animal that leaves the country and there is no room for mistakes.”

Paul Gavegan concludes “Every farm situation is different and a good ID system can make day to day operations run more efficiently and reduce stress on both handlers and animals.  Zee Tags Ltd has all the knowledge and expertise to help put together a system that fits any situation.”

For more information phone Zee Tags Ltd 0800 493 382