• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Control and Cost of Animal Identification Vexes Cattle Producers

Posted on: Saturday, 12 November 2005, 00:00 CST

By Jim Gransbery, Billings Gazette, Mont.

Nov. 12--Individual animal identification for livestock producers is voluntary now, but the federal government intends to make it mandatory in 2009.

Ostensibly, it is seen as an animal health tool that will allow officials to trace back to herds that may be infected with a transmissible disease. However, it is already being used as a marketing tool and those who ID their animals gain a premium for doing so. The fear is that when it is mandatory, the premium will disappear.

And who pays for the system and controls the computerized information is a matter vexing cattle producers everywhere.

Members of the Montana Cattlemen's Association and R-CLAF got a broad overview Friday afternoon of what is in the works and how it will affect them.

The whole idea is riding like a bad saddle and at least one producer suggested that Montana producers tell the federal government to stick the tag in its ear.

Marc Bridges, executive officer of the Montana Department of Livestock, and its former chief brand inspector, began his presentation before the MCA/R-CALF 4th Annual Cattlemen's Day gathering at the Northern Hotel saying he thought the answer was found in three words: "Hot iron brand."

It is the most permanent identification and its use dates from Egyptian society before Christ, he said. No other system of animal marking is as permanent and unalterable.

However, most states do not have brand laws and because cattle are moved in interstate commerce, the federal government's mandates will have to be met if cattlemen are going to sell livestock across state lines.

"Our brands won't be accepted in interstate commerce," he said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will require mandatory ID of each animal by 2009. A voluntary program begins next year, and already more that 100,000 head of Montana cattle are ID'd through a computerized ear tag system. The tags are registered to an individual location and are stored in a computer at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

Bridges said producers are not inclined to take part in the program unless doing so puts money in their pocket. He estimated that 3,000 ranches will be in the computer by 2006.

The ear tags do not need to be attached until the animals move to the first point of sale in interstate commerce, he said.

Bridges said mandatory ID constitutes an unfunded mandate and it will cost $10 to $15 a head. Some marketing firms -- feeders and packers -- are requiring the registration now and are paying premiums for animals that are. It was suggested from the audience of about 75 persons that whoever is requesting or requiring the information, should pay for it.

In addition to the cost, there are concerns about confidentiality and privacy of the computerized information. Also, there is general opposition to this information being held and controlled by the federal government.

"Those battles, states rights and privacy, are to come," Bridges said.

Checking those cattle at auction yards would incur another cost, Bridges said.

As an example, he said that during the week of the Northern International Livestock Exposition, about 35,000 head of cattle went through Billings' two cattle rings.

Checking the brand inspection records, Bridges said those cattle came from 44 of Montana's 56 counties. They went to 30 counties and 14 states.

He said the board of livestock does not have the money to provide each brand inspector with a computerized reader to individually ID those animals.

Bridges' presentation was to the CMA/R-CALF ID Committee. A resolution was being discussed as to what the organizations thought should and should not be required by the federal government.

Lyle Quick, a cattleman from the Circle area suggested that Montana refuse to take part.

"In Montana we have a system that works," he said. "Let's just refuse.

Tell the government to stick the tag in their ear."

The convention will vote on resolutions today during its business meeting.

-----

To see more of the Billings Gazette, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.billingsgazette.com.

Copyright (c) 2005, Billings Gazette, Mont.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: Billings Gazette, Billings, Montana

More News in this Category