AMARILLO, TX – More than 10 years ago, USDA proposed a mandatory national animal identification program to protect the cattle industry from long-term injury in the event of a disease outbreak. That proposal, however, fell as cattlemen across the country balked at a government-mandate that would increase costs at a local level and could expose personal producer information to others. In the years since then, cattle industry groups like Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA) have developed an industry-driven, individual identification program that facilitates disease traceability, provides opportunities for value-added premiums negotiated by business-to-business (B2B) partnerships throughout the beef cattle supply chain. The Traceability Pilot is a voluntary and industry directed, rather than a government-directed project that keeps data confidential but captures animal movement along the supply chain to aid in disease traceability. Participants are provided electronic or radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags at no cost or at a discounted price, depending on supply, and even a $5 per head incentive from feedyards if specified information on animal health treatments and practices are provided. The pilot is currently open to cow/calf producers, stocker operators, auction markets, and feedyards operators interested in participating. Currently, USDA is purchasing up to eight million RFID ear tags for producers to use at no cost. More information is available at www.traceabilitypilot.com
(SOURCE: All Ag News)