USDA Transfers Animal Identification Program to States

USDA has announced a revamped animal identification plan that will be focused on groups of livestock rather than individual animals and will only be applied when livestock are shipped between states.  Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says they will asking the states to run the program in response to complaints at listening sessions across the country about federal intrusion into private property. 

South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture Bill Even says the states have been working with USDA for several months now to develop a more grassroots approach to animal ID where they will be in charge of compiling information about producers and be in charge of access to it. 

USDA indicates they may rely more on the states and existing programs like branding and Bang’s vaccination systems to integrate into the trace back system and Even says that is a good approach.