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Animal Identification –
A BENEFIT to the Livestock Industry
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by Jeff Windett, Executive Vice-President of
Missouri Cattlemen’s Association |
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For the past several years, there have been few
issues that have garnered as much attention as animal ID. Many
comments have been made disparaging the concept and in many cases
the comments are false or misleading! From the very beginning, the
Missouri Cattlemen’s Association has advocated a voluntary animal ID
program to be held in a private database in order to maintain
confidentiality. Through this design, only the essential contact
information would be available to animal health officials. In an
effort to add some clarification to discussion, I would like to
offer three reasons a voluntary National Animal Identification
System (NAIS) is necessary.
Missouri is a leading cow-calf state, and our producers have made a
substantial investment in their animals. First and foremost, it is
our responsibility to protect the health of the livestock industry
and the investment our producers have made in their businesses. It
is no small task for our animal health officials to monitor and
protect against animal diseases. Since 9-11-01, we are living in a
different world where agro-terrorism is a very real possibility. It
should come as no surprise there are those in our world who would
like to seriously harm our food supply. It would be so easy to
spread the worst of contagious diseases known to the beef industry,
for example, Foot and Mouth Disease. This disease could literally
spread to a multi-state region in a matter of hours. Few people
understand this kind of outbreak would not only seriously disrupt
livestock movement and marketing, but completely shut down all
businesses until it is controlled. This devastating event could
cripple the United States economy and the livestock industry. A
voluntary system with significant participation could eliminate
critical time contacting producers in case of a serious outbreak.
Next, a voluntary system enables producers to participate in a
number of value-added source and age programs that allows animals to
be used for export in international markets. Many of these markets
pay a significant premium for source and age verification. Today’s
market place may pay from $20-80 per head premium for that
verification. Due to the voluntary nature of the program, nobody is
twisting any arms of producers to participate. It is each producer’s
right to choose if they want to participate! We believe producers
should have an opportunity to participate at their discretion and
not have that right taken away.
Finally, an animal ID program can allow for genetic improvement
within a herd. Currently, the beef industry can measure over 15
economically relevant traits. Until recently the beef industry,
specifically cow-calf producers, have been hampered by the lack of
production and carcass trait information communicated between
segments of the industry. With an animal ID system, the
identification stays with the animal from the cow/calf to the
feedlot and on to the packer, making information flow much more
feasible. It is now possible for producers to gain this data and use
it as a valuable genetic selection tool. By implementing these tools
into their breeding programs, beef producers are making great
strides in producing a higher quality product, thus increasing their
profitability.
Contrary to what many believe, radio frequency identification tags
do not cause cancer in beef, can not be traced by satellite and do
not cost more for small producers than large producers. In addition,
animals purchased with RFID tags do not require the next owner to
participate in the program, and the USDA does not want to track
every movement. For example, trail rides are exempt from any
tracking through the animal ID program and it is not necessary to
acquire permission to participate in them!
The primary cost for producers to participate in a voluntary animal
identification, or source and age verification program will be the
cost of tags. This price typically ranges from $2-4 across the
industry. A small producer with 20 head could spend as little as $80
in total. In addition, there is no need for investment in any
additional equipment! The cost is consistent regardless of the size
of the operation.
The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association believes a mandatory National
Animal Identification Program would eliminate premiums and be
detrimental to producers. We do, however, advocate strongly for a
voluntary system. Many believe that that an animal identification
system is simply a way for the government to control livestock
producers – we do not subscribe to that theory! No one wants more
government intervention in our lives, however this voluntary system
works to protect the health of our livestock industry, provides more
marketing opportunities and can help improve genetic performance! A
voluntary National Animal Identification Program is important to the
success of our livestock industry!
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