Abstract: A method for identifying and tracking a plurality of individual animals includes the initial step of a manufacturer creating a plurality of EIDs, each EID having a unique number. A livestock producer requests a plurality of EIDs from the manufacturer, and the manufacturer forwards the numbers of the EIDs shipped to the producer, along with identification data for that producer, to a central warehouse. The warehouse creates a prerecord in a central database from the EID number and identification data for the producer, and communicates with the producer to permit access to the prerecords for that producer. The producer will collect data relative to each animal and input the data into a computer having the downloaded prerecords from the central data warehouse.

Abstract: A method for identifying and tracking a plurality of individual animals includes the initial step of a manufacturer creating a plurality of EIDs, each ID having a unique number. A livestock producer requests a plurality of EIDs from the manufacturer, and the manufacturer forwards the numbers of the EIDs shipped to the producer, along with identification data for that producer, to essential data warehouse. The warehouse creates a prerecord in a central data base from the EID number and identification data for the producer, and communicates with the producer to permit access to the prerecords for that producer. The producer will collect data relative to each animal and input the data into a computer having the downloaded prerecords from the central data warehouse.