June 6, 2006

NPPC strives to register premise identification for US pork producers

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is moving forward with livestock identification programmes that allow 48-hour traceback of cattle, said Bobby Acord, a private consultant to the NPPC.

Premises identification would be the key to the hog industry's cheap and simple approach, said Acord, adding that an NPPC task force is ready with its plan for a 48-hour traceback system without utilising costly measures.

Producers would continue to keep data, but that will be made available to animal health officials in the event of a disease outbreak.

NPPC will push to have every US swine producer or pig owner register premises and establish the premises identification number that would help animal health officials trace back during disease outbreaks.

NPPC supports mandatory livestock identification because any other way would have been futile, Acord noted.

Since pigs move through production in lots, 80 percent of all swine in the US can already be tracked within 48 hours in disease investigations without using individual tags, Acord said.

The NPPC said it is emphasizing recording rather than reporting. There would be little additional cost except for tags for breeding stock, Acord said.

The premises number would allow state veterinarians to contact livestock producers more rapidly in the event of an emergency.