Kansas Animal Traceback System

 

Animal Traceback system in the works was the message from Bill Brown of the Kansas Livestock Association last week, while speaking at the Beef Fest Producers Seminar.

The Animal Traceback system will be voluntary, except for the provision of animal movements, where the identification of livestock will be mandatory under the Animal Disease Traceability framework, which is expected to be implemented in 2013.

Identification for the program will range from orange calfhood vaccination tags to RFID ear tags. Livestock producers will have a choice of livestock tags to choose from, that will be applicable and compliant for both the Animal Traceaback System and Animal Disease Traceability program.

Brown mentioned the program will be state-run, with oversight from USDA. Animal health officials and state veterinarians are working side by side to standardize the traceback systems. Kansas working group consisting of producers, feeders along with other animal interests will provide input on how the program should be structured.

The Kansas Animal Health Department is in the process of implementing an information management system to track livestock, which eight states already have the system in place. The objective of this system is to protect producer confidentiality, which is an industry concern and priority.

As each state creates and implements its own animal traceback system, it must have the ability to link to the USDA Animal Disease Traceability system for the proposed mandatory identification of interstate animal movements.

For the effectiveness of the Animal Disease Traceability system, it is expected that only approved USDA 840 tags would be used. 840 approved tags are country of origin compliant (COOL) which are the visual and RFID ear tags.

Additional Resources:

USDA Approved 840 Tags

How to Improved RFID Tag Retention

USDA: Animal Disease Traceability

Animal Tracking with EID: COOL Animal ID

For more details on the Kansas Animal Traceback System, please visit their website: Kansas Livestock Association

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USDA: Animal Disease Traceability

The USDA will be conducting a series of public meetings to discuss the new Animal Disease Traceability system, which will be replacing the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) that was scrapped earlier this year.

The purpose of the meetings is to allow the cattle industry and general public a chance to give their input on the traceability regulation, performance and standards that are currently being developed.

The meeting objective is to review and clarify the current new framework. Discuss the approaching of performance based regulations, deliberate performance standards, and concepts being developed by the regulatory working group. 

The Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) along with a regulatory working group representative will give three presentations.

State Perspective on Animal Disease Traceability:

Share the perspective and usefulness of Animal Disease Traceability state wide and nationally.

Animal Disease Traceability Framework:

Share the new components and concepts of the traceability framework with the livestock industry and general public.

Report of The Regulatory Working Group:

A representative of the regulatory working group will discuss the process involving the new traceability framework and proposed rule being considered.

After the presentations there will be small group sessions with discussions that will be shared with the group as a whole. Meeting participants will be asked to discuss their ideas of USDA and the Traceability Regulatory Working Group regarding the Animal Disease Traceability regulation and performance standards.

Questions will be asked around the following topics:

Feedback on the preliminary traceability performance standards.

Suggestions related to implementing the Animal Disease Traceability framework.

Details and dates of the meetings are available at the USDA website:

Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service

The USDA plans to have the Animal Disease Traceability system implemented by 2013. 

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USDA Declared Farmers Market Week

This week is declared National Farmers Market week. As officially declared by Thomas Vilsack from the USDA for The week of August 1-7 2010.

USDA Full listing of Farmers Markets.

This is a great opportunity to discover your local farmers market and support local farmers with the purchase of fresh produce, cheeses, and meats. The farmers market has long been a tradition for many families, as the best source for farm to plate freshness.

The farmers market has always been the best place to buy homemade products like fresh baked bread, choice cuts of fresh meats, sausages, and ready to cook food for your BBQ.

Make it a family day, and visit your local farmers market, treat yourself to the goodness of farm fresh products, and give your local farmers your support.

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