The ASA Board of Directors has unanimously approved a two phase Shorthorn identification ear tagging program. The programs' intent is to provide users of Shorthorn genetics competitive and proactive options to qualify age and source verified calves and to provide recognition to Shorthorn influenced cattle.
 The most involved tagging program will be formed in partnership with IMI Global, Inc. Producers of Shorthorn genetics can use IMI Global's USVerified Supplier Evaluation Program, a USDA Process Verified Program (PVP), to approve producers as Source and Age Verified to meet domestic and international market requirements. IMI's USVerified program was the first USDA approved program not to require a costly on-farm visit to verify calving records. IMI is emerging as an industry leader in USDA process verification and offers a very competitive pricing structure for verification and tags.
The more general "SHORTHORN" tag will be marketed in partnership with Allflex USA, Inc. and be made available though any vender of Allflex tags via a special skew. Both basic visual and matching pairs with EID will be available. Allflex offers a website which allows tag buyers to print EID numbers by a number located on the bag of tags. This allows users to print forms to write down which animals receive which EID. Buyers are asked to only put the "SHORTHORN" tags in animals of 50% or great Shorthorn influence.
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