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Animal traceability programs provide more opportunities in trade deals

A cattle industry leader says China’s traceability requirements for U.S. beef could bode well for states already implementing animal identification programs.

“Michigan is positioned pretty well to be at the forefront of that as a state led the nation and is really on the forefront with having traceability already in place for our cattle.”

Michigan Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President George Quackenbush tells Brownfield the state implemented a mandatory electronic identification system for cattle in 2008 to better track bovine tuberculosis outbreaks and animal movement.  “In the event of a disease issue, we can very quickly and efficiently trace the animal back to the farm of origin and determine what other animals might have been exposed to that animal over the course of its lifetime.”

He says the technology is also being used by producers to improve management on farms and provides value-add premiums in the marketplace.

A recent assessment by the U.S. Meat Export Federation says the U.S. and India are the only two major beef export countries that do not have mandatory traceability programs.

Quackenbush says this week’s Michigan Cattlemen’s Association Summer Round Up will focus on animal disease traceability and beef research taking place at Michigan State University. He says the event, which takes place this Friday and Saturday in East Lansing, will also include agricultural tours, demonstrations and educational sessions.

AUDIO: Interview with George Quackenbush

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