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R-CALF wants animal traceability to remain voluntary

The CEO of R-CALF USA says their organization is concerned the federal government will force a mandatory animal identification system on producers to meet China’s traceability requirement for imports.

“We already have cattle producers that are engaged in traceability programs on a voluntary basis to make the beef from the cattle they produce eligible for export, to the European Union for example that does not want antibiotics and growth hormones, which is the same requirement that China is imposing.”

Bill Bullard tells Brownfield if voluntarily traceability programs become mandatory, cattle producers would lose premium pricing while incurring additional costs.  “With respect to these export markets, much of them are wanting third part verification which means the producer will have to expend additional costs to hire a third party to verify that the record keeping system is accurate.”

This week China resumed U.S. beef imports after a 13 year ban, but has set animal traceability requirements and will not accept beef that was raised with growth promotants.

AUDIO: Interview with Bill Bullard