IDs and Numbers

The VAS Developer API uses unique identifiers for several data points, most notably: 

• dairyCowId
• dairyId
• penId

Each identifier is unique throughout the VAS data set, and is translated to a smaller, dairy-specific number on the front end to simplify the identification of on-farm resources, such as animals and pens.

dairyCowId

This identifier is unique to each animal in the VAS suite of products, and is the most stable and reliable source of animal identification data. dairyCowId differs from the animal's cowNumber, displayCowNumber, EID 15-digit electronic ID number associated with the animal eartag, and isoId.

For example, use the VAS Platform to view animal number 123: 

The animal that displays is actually dairyCowId 99989237, but its cowNumber is 123. The cowNumber is assigned to an animal, and is usually visible on the eartag:

cowNumber is commonly reused and is not unique to the animal on farm or in the VAS suite of products. See Cows Resource to learn more.

penId

The same structure applies to pens. Each pen in the VAS suite of products has a unique id and uses a smaller number on the front end for improved usability. For example, Demo Dairy pen 1 (penNumber) is the equivalent of penId 5192: 

See Pens Resource to learn more.