Three things happened on cattle ID this week. USDA opened a second round of free electronic ear tags. Electronic tags began replacing the metal clips on Mexican cattle crossing the border. A Kansas State research team published what may be the most useful traceability study we’ve seen in years.

That study is important not because it takes a side, but because it finally puts a number on the question everyone asks once they start tagging cattle: When does this actually work? The answer is uncomfortable for both sides of the argument.

According to the study, today’s traceability system electronically captures only about 3% of cattle movements. To reach the levels needed for rapid disease response, the researchers found it would take widespread tagging and reporting as well as a national data structure that doesn’t exist yet (Frontiers in Veterinary Science).

In other words, the argument isn’t about tags anymore. It’s about everything that happens after the tag goes in the ear.

First time reading? Sign up for free here