August 24, 2006

 

USDA urges support for animal identification system

 

 

Speaking at the National Institute of Animal Agriculture's Animal Identification/Information Exposition 2006 in Kansas City on Wednesday (Aug 23), US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns encouraged participants to continue working toward full, voluntary participation in the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

 

"Don't let naysayers dampen your enthusiasm," Johanns said in a speech to the group. He added that animal traceability will help the livestock sector stay competitive.

 

The USDA is listening to market concerns and is addressing them all through a campaign of education about what the system is and is not, Johanns said.

 

Johanns also addressed issues of effectiveness, cost and confidentiality. He defended the USDA's stance on turning over the database programme to private industry, saying it provided a competitive environment to keep the costs down.

 

A nationwide animal identification system with broad participation by producers is "a critical tool" in managing disease, he said. 

 

However, a national programme also should address the issue of confidentiality, Johanns said. He said farmer desires to keep information private were "right on the mark. Information about your livestock is your business."

 

Privacy is one reason that directing the private industry to devise database programmes and lists was appealing to him, Johanns said. This way, the information is not being held by a public office and is, therefore, in private hands.

 

Johanns said he envisions a programme in which the USDA telephones a database after a disease is discovered to have that database run its own trace-back and get back to USDA officials with the results.

 

There will be a day when the market begins to call for this ability, Johanns said. There may even be a day when the market offers a premium for this ability.

 

Livestock and meat industry experts were generally in favour of having a national animal identification programme for disease control. 

 

Gary Smith, a retired meat sciences professor, said a single case of mad cow disease or other animal disease in a country can have devastating effects on the value of livestock and poultry in and around the index herd or flock. Domestic consumption of meat and poultry and access to global meat and poultry markets also can be cut.

 

Though he supports full compliance with the NAIS, Smith said 100 percent participation would not prevent a foreign animal disease from occurring in the US. But the higher the compliance rate, the more the programme would help prevent the spread of such a disease.

 

Leo McDonnell, co-founder and immediate past president of R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America said that simple ear tags or brands could be used by many states to get the programme off the ground. Doing so, and showing that the NAIS will not be digging around for private information would help build trust in the system and encourage participation, he said.

 

Most cattle producers recognise the need for traceability for animal disease control, McDonnell said. And Montana, where he ranches, already has animal health traceback in the form of brand laws and animal movement laws.