Opinions on microchipping cattle pls

morebabies

Hi,
As per title, my hubbie has some fairly valuable cattle this year, and when he lets them out of the shed, they will be in a fairly visible spot beside a main road.Having heard of recent thefts of livestock from farmers in the area, he is wondering about whether he should get them microchipped. Anyone have any advice on this pls?

For example, cost-wise, is it worth it at all, or would he be better off just getting them insured against theft?

And if the microchipping does work, and successfully locates a stolen animal, would there not be a big rigmarole to go through then as regards getting cops involved, courts, etc. etc.

Any information or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

greysides

Two thoughts:

First, who is going to check cattle for micro-chips? It's not the common thing it is with horses and dogs. No one would expect cattle to have chips and so no one would check for them. You also need special equipment to do so which at the moment no one will have.
Second, there may be details to sort out as cattle are eaten and chips 'migrate'. It would be like having left a broken needle in the carcase.

flatout11

Not sure you will be able to micro chip them but why dont you consider the EID bolus (that is an option for use in sheep)
this should get around the potiental difficulties that greysides mentioned of a chip migrating and still provide a means of identification - should they be taken and located!!!

pakalasa

At the very least, you could photograph all of them. Maybe take hair samples too. These could be used to verify them by DNA, if needed in the future.

JohnBoy

if they're a patchy breed like friesans then photos will be as good as anything.

There was a case in tipp years ago won using photos of them as their markings are as unique as a fingerprint.

freeze branding would probably also work, but I'm guessing if they're pedigrees that would be frowned upon as it's not pretty.

blue5000

OP we all have valuable cattle:D and none of us can afford to lose them to rustlers. By freeze branding an initial and the last 3 digits of their jumbo tag you would be encouraging them to look at someone else's field instead, a bit like having a burgler alarm as a deterrent.

Good idea about a hair sample, put a bit in a ziplock bag when tagging a calf, then put all the samples in a lunchbox in the freezer. Worst thing to have these days on an outfarm is a pen for loading cattle.:o

Bizzum

Anyone tattooing cattle nowadays?

sideboard

Bizzum wrote: »

Anyone tattooing cattle nowadays?

Naaaww, too dangerous mate. We just 'too the odd passing wilderbeest nowadays days, just to keep the hand in :o