United States-Faults in tracking sytems for cattle.

UNITED STATES-MILLIONS WASTED ON IMPERFECT TRACKING SYTEMS.

Livestock groups differ in their opinions of the National Animal ID System.. National Pork Producers Council President Don Butler testified before a House Ag Subcommittee Wednesday that a mandatory system will provide tools to manage herd health through disease surveillance, enable producers to maintain access to international markets and strengthen security of the nation’s livestock industry. But that’s not the way that R-CALF President Max Thornsberry feels about it.

"Mandatory animal identification is not an effective tool for preventing the introduction of diseases into the U.S. cattle herd," Thornsberry said. "Its misapplication as a disease prevention tool is contributing to the introduction and spread of foreign animal diseases." Thornsberry maintains that the USDA has been successful at eradicating cattle diseases using existing resources. He cites the near-complete eradication of brucellosis and the reduction in bovine tuberculosis in the domestic cattle herd.

House Ag Chairman Collin Peterson favors making the system mandatory.

"After five years of throwing over $100 million at a voluntary system, we are still in pretty much the same place," said Representative Peterson (D-Minn.). "The stakeholders out there need to get together and resolve their differences, a mandatory animal ID system is crucial in order to avoid the economic consequences of a major animal disease outbreak."

Thornsberry, however, would rather the program remain voluntary. "We do not oppose animal identification, but we do oppose it being mandatory," said Thornsberry. "Our policy is very simple: if you want to participate, fine, and if you don’t, fine."

NAIS is a state-federal-industry partnership that is overseen by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection service.