The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association has come out opposing USDA’s proposed mandatory electronic identification requirement. The recommendation includes a proposal requiring all breeding age cattle to carry an electronic ID tag within the next five years. Stockgrowers Animal ID Committee chairman Kenny Fox says the current NUES tags that producers are using does a great job handling animal disease traceability.
He says if producers are allowed to use multiple forms of ID, it’s not only less expensive for producers, it also provides a safety mechanism if another id form fails.
Fox says another problem with the USDA mandatory electronic ID proposal centers around producer liability and privacy concerns.
Fox says USDA’s goal is to eventually require identification of all feeder cattle. He says that’s not needed as the disease risk is relatively low for feeder cattle. Fox says the Ag Department wants to implement the new rule January 1 of 2023.
