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" We need to have strong inspection programs [across the United States and Canada] because we're protecting people's property and that duty is second to none," says Ken Weir, Alberta (Canada) Livestock Identification Services general manager. Weir reports that on average, Alberta is recording 100 new brands each month, and so, "those that say no one is branding anymore and that branding is going the way of the do-do bird, better think again." Despite new technologies, ranchers are still hot branding cattle. However, many are also considering electronic identification (EID). Glenn Smith, AgInfoLink USA country manager says there is a growing need for the EID technology. "Data tracking on our livestock demands identification for genetic improvement, source verification and information transfer. Electronic I.D. will tell us where the cattle came from at each stage of the process and will help us better manage the food we are providing to our customers." The government is interested in identification for a variety of reasons, Smith says, including theft prevention and investigation, animal disease monitoring, food safety and global commerce. Elec- tronic identification would help ease the traceback of animals for these reasons, Smith adds, noting that the ability to trace back cattle has diminished significantly over the years because successful disease eradication programs have resulted in less funding for identification programs. Right now, he says, the government only has the ability to trace back two to four percent of U.S. cattle. Establishing an individual identification program that includes ownership information "would not be simple or easy, but is very doable," in Smith's opinion. Electronic identification won't replace branding for livestock ownership identification, but rather will supplement it, he thinks. He cited the example of Dakota Prairie Beef, a beef feedlot to begin operations near Gascoyne, ND. Upon entry into Dakota Prairie Beef, cattle will receive a traditional brand inspection. The cattle will then be implanted and the inspection information will be tied to the data on each animal. Upon departure to the processing facility, the identification tags will be scanned and compared against the original inspection information to verify the animals destined for slaughter. |
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