The Kentucky

SIMPLE MANAGEMENT ADDS INTEGRITY
 
In the past several years I have traveled to hundreds of different Hereford herds. I have seen all kinds of calf identification systems used in my travels. It seems that several breeders have no identification system in place at all, a system that has no rhyme or reason, or one with little integrity. The beginning of a new calving season is a great time to start a new and improved identification system in your herd.
 
Each calf registered with the American Hereford Association is required to have a tattoo. I recommend using the universal lettering system for year born. X was the letter for 2010, Y is the letter to use for 2011, and Z
will be the letter for 2012. The letters never used with the universal lettering system are I, O, Q, and V. In 2013, we will start over with the letter A.
 
After getting your letter for year born correct, start with 1 (one) for the first calf born on your farm that year. For example, tattoo the first calf born on your farm in 2011 with 1Y or 01Y. If you have over ten cows 01Y is
recommended, and over one hundred cows 001Y is recommended.  For the second calf born us 2Y or 02Y or 002Y and so on. Tattoo your herd identification in one ear, and the calf identification in the other ear. Herd identifications are letters that represent you herd prefix.
 
If you are not tattooing at birth, be sure to TAG YOUR CALVES AT BIRTH using the same numbering system that the tattoo and registration paper will be. Then when you work your calves for the first time thru the chute, you can tattoo, and then the tag, tattoo, and registration papers will all correspond.
 
When tagging calves, I recommend that you also use three other numbers on the calf tag besides the calf's identification: one being the sire's identification on the very top front of the tag above the calf number; two,
the dam's identification under the calf number in smaller print; three, on the back bottom of the tag, put the birth date in large print. For example, put 2-14 for a calf born on Valentines Day.
 
Implementing this simple management practice will do a couple of things for you. First, it will add integrity to your program. The identification number of the calf will be in sequence with the date of birth on the back of
the tag. Secondly, when you are not home, and other family members are showing cattle to prospective buyers, everyone will be able to identify the calf, and will have sire, dam, and date of birth information easily
available.
 
I attend around forty Hereford shows each year. At almost every show, one breeder complains to me about the date of birth, or the out of age cattle, of another breeder. I challenge you, if you are NOT writing down the
correct date of birth or birth weight on your cattle, that you change, and make that your Calving Season Resolution for 2011. The one person’s integrity that you can ensure is your own.