WSDA Offering New, Renewing ECTR Users Free RFID Tags

To encouraging Washington’s cattle industry to either try out, or renew usage of the ECTR system, the state Department of Agriculture is offering free RFID tags. The WSDA’s Brennan Kimbel said ECTR, the Electronic Cattle Transaction Reporting System, offers ranchers and dairy owners an alternative way to meet brand inspection requirement s through self-reporting of sales and out-of-state cattle movement. She noted this helps the state be much more proactive when it comes to disease tractability.

“Tracking animals that move throughout the state, if there is a disease outbreak, they can go and pinpoint individual animals where they’ve been and who they’ve comingled with.  And this individual identification really helps them narrow down where the animals have been, that way you’re not quarantining as many animals once they can pinpoint where the disease outbreak has been.”

She noted ECRT electronically captures proof of ownership, registered brad records and official individual identification. Kimbel added the WSDA continually takes feedback on the program to ensure it and the website meets expectations.

“A repayment option, putting headcounts and the bottom of the certificate for ease of checking cattle in other states, or wherever the cattle end up.  And lower convince fees for E-checks, and on-line renewals.”

Kimbel said producers who sign-up for ECTR are eligible for 40 RFID tags and one applicator for herds of 50 or less, larger herds are eligible for 100 tags and an applicator. Those who renew are also eligible for free RFID tags. For more information about ECTR, please visit the WSDA’s ECTR Webpage, call (360) 902-1855 or E-mail.

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