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NIAA helps lead cattle traceability effort

The National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) is helping lead an effort to develop a model for a national, industry-led, cattle traceability program.

Past efforts to develop a national cattle traceability program have run into some stiff opposition, particularly from cow-calf producers and auction markets. But NIAA chair Nevil Speer tells Brownfield producer attitudes have evolved over time.

“Sure, there are some that are staunchly opposed to this,” Speer says. “But that’s really changed in the last 10 years—that we’ve had producers starting to understand the value of traceability.”

The biggest arguments for cattle traceability are improving disease traceability and staying competitive in global markets. Speer thinks trade will be the ultimate sway point.

“Trade, as we talk about export values, adds about 300 dollars per head to the beef industry,” he says. “That’s a pretty big and important component. So we need to be on top of that and make sure we don’t have leverage points that someone can work against.”

Speer points out that the U.S. and India are the only countries that do not have a national traceability program.

Speer spoke with Brownfield at NIAA’s annual conference in Denver, where cattle traceability is the main topic of discussion.

AUDIO: Nevil Speer