Cattle Industry Pursues Private-Sector Animal ID System

A private sector animal ID system will best meet the needs of the country’s animal health surveillance initiatives and will better protect producer privacy according to testimony given by beef industry representatives today. 

Before the House Agriculture’s Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture, cattle-producer members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) reinforced their commitment to a private sector animal ID system, and expressed concerns about a proposed program controlled primarily by federal government. The hearing was called to hear from various sectors involved in the development of a national animal ID system.

“Many producers are very concerned over the unknowns associated with the implementation of USDA’s National Animal Identification System (NAIS), especially the data privacy issues,” says Mark Armentrout, NCBA member and a spokesperson for the Beef Information Exchange (BIE).  Armentrout is chief operating officer of AgInfoLink Global, Inc.

The BIE group, which is cooperating with NCBA, is an industry-driven, private-sector alliance that aims to meet the needs of the NAIS while achieving both public and private objectives. The BIE represents a wealth of expertise and experience in animal trace-back technologies. “In some cases members of this group have had tracking or trace-back systems in place for greater than 10 years,” adds Armentrout. 

The private sector programs being proposed by the beef industry will work with USDA and states to meet animal health surveillance needs.  Private sector data services also have the capability of adding value for producers. 

“Livestock producers can experience a direct economic benefit by gathering more information on their herd and making management and genetic improvements with the data and the systems,” explains Armentrout.  “These types of improvements are well documented and provide producers an opportunity that increases the value of their herd in conjunction with improving the health and well-being of the entire agricultural complex.”

NCBA members believe that producer participation will be key to ensuring a successful program. Jim Akers, who is testifying on behalf of the Southeastern Livestock Network, agrees. “We believe the approach we have taken is the best hope of achieving the stated objective of the NAIS and developing the key factor that will define its success over time: producers’ buy-in and participation.”

Beef industry witnesses emphasize that there are many existing animal ID programs which have proven successful, and they are coordinated by the private sector.  Many U.S. trading partners, including Australia and Canada, have implemented private sector systems, and many producers believe existing programs within the U.S. can be linked together as the basis for a nationwide system. 

“Central to achieving these goals is an efficient and effective animal identification program with 48-hour traceback capability while protecting producer and processor rights by preserving data privacy and data confidentiality,” says Jay Truitt, NCBA’s executive director of legislative affairs. “Both objectives are equally important.”

NCBA will continue its work with the BIE, top government officials, and representatives and industry coalitions to push for a national animal ID system implemented in the private sector.  Producers’ concerns of confidentiality will remain a top priority.