The world of radio-frequency ID (RFID) technology is rapidly evolving, with new players joining the market and new services being offered, says Extension beef specialist Dale Blasi of Kansas State University (KSU). Blasi conducted BEEF magazine's 3rd annual survey of RFID companies.
“It's important to revisit the survey every year to be up to date, and we've done everything we can ensure we have an accurate portrayal of those companies,” he adds.
The chart below represents the U.S. cattle industry's most comprehensive look at RFID companies and the technology they offer the cattle industry.
The survey is a compilation of information provided by 37 firms involved in various aspects of RFID technology. Some offer hardware — scale heads, RFID readers, tags, etc. Others primarily offer software to accumulate the cow-herd data collected by the hardware. Others are one-stop shops offering the whole package — hardware, software and data storage.
The companies participating in this survey were asked to provide detailed information, but the chart below is just the tip of the iceberg.
To find out more about each company, visit http://beefstockerusa.org/rfid.grid.htm. There, you'll find an interactive version of this chart developed by Blasi and KSU Extension colleague Kevin Dhuyvetter. Click on the company name for background information on the firm, contact information, Web site links, the firms' partners, goals and mission.
Also included are details on the products and services offered, the specifications for use, compatible equipment, fees and much more. There's also an Excel spreadsheet calculator for estimating the costs of an RFID system.
Blasi issues one caution to users viewing the survey and the companies' information online.
“It's a survey we asked vendors to fill out, so we can't validate their claims. It's a snapshot view of who is in this particular industry,” he says.
Company | Tags | Handheld | Stationary | Scale Head | Software | Data Storage |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AgInfoLink USA www.aginfolink.com Longmont, CO; 303-682-9898 | NO | YES | NO | NO | YES | YES |
Aleis International www.aleis.com Jandowae, Queensland, Australia; 61-7-4668 5941 | YES | YES | YES | NO | NO | NO |
Allflex USA www.allflexusa.com Dallas Ft. Worth Airport, TX; 800-989-TAGS | YES | YES | YES | NO | NO | NO |
Animal Profiling, Inc. www.animalprofiling.com Portland, OR; 503-819-8873 | YES | YES | YES | NO | YES | YES |
APEIS Corp. www.apeis.com Norfolk, NE; 402-379-9487 | NO | NO | NO | NO | YES | YES |
Beef Concepts www.beefconcepts.com Springfield, MN; 800-504-4562 | YES | YES | NO | NO | YES | YES |
Boontech Pty. Ltd. www.boontech.com Kyneton, Victoria, Australia; 61-3-5424 8482 | NO | YES | YES | YES | YES | NO |
Cattlesoft, Inc. www.CattleMax.com Bryan/College Station, TX; 877-454-COWS | NO | NO | NO | NO | YES | NO |
Digi-Star www.digi-star.com Fort Atkinson, WI; 800-225-7695 | NO | NO | NO | YES | YES | NO |
Digital Angel Corp. www.digitalangelcorp.com South St. Paul, MN; 800-328-0118 | YES | YES | YES | NO | YES | NO |
EIDAP www.eidap.com Sherwood Park, Alta., Canada; 780-467-2707 | YES | NO | NO | NO | NO | NO |
eMerge Interactive www.emergeinteractive.com Sebastian, FL; 877-578-BEEF | NO | NO | NO | NO | YES | YES |
EZ-ID, LLC Animal Identification www.ezidavid.com Greeley, CO; 877-330-3943 | YES | YES | YES | NO | NO | NO |
Farnam Companies, Inc. www.farnam.com Phoenix, AZ; 800-234-2269 | YES | YES | YES | NO | YES | NO |
Feedlot Solutions www.feedlotsolutions.com Kearney, NE; 888-300-2727 | NO | NO | NO | NO | YES | NO |
Gallagher Power Fence, Inc. www.gallagherusa.com North Kansas City, MO; 800-531-5908 | NO | NO | NO | YES | YES | NO |
Global Animal Management, Inc. www.mygamonline.com Union, NJ; 800-235-9824 | NO | NO | NO | NO | YES | YES |
GrowSafe Systems Ltd. www.growsafe.com Airdrie, Alberta, Canada; 403-912-1879 | NO | YES | YES | YES | YES | NO |
I.D. ology www.id-ology.com Eau Claire, WI; 800-395-5585 | YES | YES | YES | NO | YES | NO |
Idlogic www.idlogic.com Chibougamau, Quebec, Canada; 418-748-4976 | NO | YES | NO | NO | NO | NO |
IMI, Inc. www.imiglobal.com Platte City, MO; 888-343-4796 | NO | NO | NO | NO | YES | YES |
Lion Edge Technologies, Inc. www.lionedge.com Aurora, CO; 720-222-0681 | NO | NO | NO | NO | YES | NO |
Livestock Supplies www.kaniwi.com Linden, Alta., Canada; 403-546-0100 | NO | NO | NO | YES | NO | NO |
Micro Beef Technologies, Ltd. www.microbeef.com Amarilllo, TX; 800-858-4330 | NO | NO | NO | NO | YES | YES |
Midwest MicroSystems, LLC www.midwestmicro.com Lincoln, NE; 402-323-6969 | NO | NO | NO | NO | YES | YES |
Optibrand Ltd, LLC www.optibrand.com Fort Collins, CO; 866-516-1462 | NO | YES | NO | NO | YES | YES |
Osborne www.osborne-ind.com Osborne, KS; 800-255-0316 | YES | NO | YES | NO | YES | NO |
Red Wing Software www.redwingsoftware.com Red Wing, MN; 800-732-9464 | NO | NO | NO | NO | YES | NO |
Reliable Scale Corp. www.reliablescale.com Calgary, Al., Canada; 800-419-1189 | NO | NO | NO | YES | NO | NO |
Research Management Systems (RMS) www.rmsusa.com Fort Collins, CO; 970-226-4080 | NO | NO | NO | NO | YES | YES |
SFK Technology, Inc. www.sfktech.com Denmark; +45 4450 3700 | YES | NO | YES | NO | NO | NO |
ScoringSystem, Inc. www.scoringsystem.info Sarasota, FL; 877-684-0018 | NO | NO | NO | NO | YES | YES |
Temple Tag, Ltd. www.templetag.com Temple, TX; 800-433-3112 | YES | YES | YES | NO | NO | NO |
Turn Key www.turnkeynet.com Amarillo, TX; 800-999-0049 | NO | NO | NO | NO | YES | YES |
Tru Test www.tru-test.com Mineral Wells, TX; 800-874-8494 | NO | NO | NO | YES | YES | NO |
VeriLogik, Inc. www.verilogik.com; www.primatechusa.com San Antonio, TX; 210-767-8878 | YES | YES | NO | NO | NO | YES |
Y-TEX Corp. www.y-tex.com Cody, WY; 888-600-YTEX | YES | YES | YES | NO | NO | YES |