December 3, 2007

US cattle group to actively campaign for premise registration

The National Cattlemen's Foundation is the latest livestock organization to partner with US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to promote premises registration for the nation's farms and ranches.

The foundation joins the growing list of respected livestock groups to partner with USDA in promoting premises registration. These include American Angus Association, the National Pork Board, the National FFA Organization, and the IDAIRY coalition consisting of Holstein Association USA, the National Milk Producers Federation, the National Association of Animal Breeders, the National Dairy Herd Information Association, the National Dairy Calf and Heifer Association, and the American Jersey Cattle Association.

Premises registration is a record of basic information - such as address and phone numbers - that allows animal health officials to quickly notify a livestock owner in case of a disease outbreak or disasters.

Carl Crabtree, a Grangeville, Idaho, cattle producer who chairs the beef industry's Joint Producer Education Committee, said rapid notification is critical as animal health officials can reach owners faster and immediate assistance will be given to protect the animals and investment.

Registering a premise does not obligate a livestock producer to participate in any additional programmes or any further levels of animal identification. NCBA members have an established policy that calls for animal identification to be voluntary, and encourages the use of existing state efforts. Animal movement data must be kept confidential and in private hands - not the government's. Producers choosing to participate should have the opportunity to do so in a manner that derives additional value from their livestock.