Traceability

Speer: We Need Some Common Sense When It Comes to Electronic Identification

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 20:10:43 GMT

When it comes to electronic identification (EID) and traceability, none of the recent rancor is particularly new. After all, the industry has been at this for well over 20 years — starting with the United States Animal Identification Plan (USAIP) back in the early 2000s. Sure, there are some fresh faces, but none of the complaints are unique — the industry has heard it all.

My favorite example of that reality dates back to the 2006 ID Info Expo hosted by the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA). I was serving as NIAA’s interim CEO at the time. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns was the keynote speaker at the event, which entailed some special security provisions because of the protests (see photo below).

The 2006 ID Info Expo, hosted by the National Institute for Animal Agriculture, required some special security provisions because of the protests.

(Nevil Speer)

How the ADT Rule Fits In

That said, with specific reference to EIDs, there remain a few items that need to be addressed surrounding the forthcoming requirement as part of USDA’s Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) rule .

Most importantly, ADT has been in effect since March 2013. Most producers are familiar with the current National Uniform Eartagging System (NUES) tags — either the orange metal brucellosis and/or “brite” (metal ID) tags. Within that longstanding framework, USDA is simply mandating a transition of current tagging requirements.

AVMA explains it this way : “The 2013 rule instituted visual ID tags for interstate movement. The new final rule switches producers to EID tags.” That is, there’s no substantive change in program requirements, USDA is simply switching to new technology.

That’s an ongoing transition in every facet of life. For instance, I don’t recall anyone squawking about the transition from mechanical scales to load cells and automated scale tickets. Isn’t the principle the same?

4 Points to Remember

The hand-wringing all feels a little like grandstanding given the realities below:

1. The tagging requirement is NOT new; the cattle are already being tagged with NUES tags.

2. EID readers are not mandated — the requirement being the EID tags must also be visually readable (840 + 12-digit number).

3. There is NO feeder cattle mandate. the Livestock Marketing Association explains it this way : “The EID rule does not expand the classes of beef cattle requiring official identification.”

4. Last, producers in the Designated Surveillance Area currently use orange 840 EID tags (which also serves as official identification) in conjunction with calfhood Brucellosis vaccination. (And lest we forget about the heyday of Brucellosis eradication when every heifer calf used to be vaccinated, tagged AND tattooed.)

Undoubtedly, the most ludicrous fear-mongering I’ve heard on the topic involves the government flying drones over your cowherd for inventory purposes. Clearly, those talkers don’t understand the technology.

In short, low-frequency EIDs don’t work that way. The maximum read range is 2 to 3 feet. It’s hard to fathom how a drone would ever get close enough, let alone trying to keep cattle in-place long enough, to get an individual reading of every individual tag. That’s just not going to happen.

It’s hard to avoid the irony of all the hyperbole. After all, the people shouting the loudest about EIDs (i.e. technology) are dependent on technology (phones, YouTube, Facebook, etc.) to voice their opposition.

In the Words of Greg Henderson

To that end, the day before he passed , Greg Henderson shared with me what was to be his upcoming column for a Drovers print edition. He addressed opposition to EIDs this way:

“Yes, there are many squeaky wheels demanding an end to this mandatory EID nonsense. But are they a vocal minority? Are the opponents of modern traceability systems shouting over those who see the value in such a system? Drovers’ readers think so. At least, a solid majority of them believe there is value in animal ID and the number of users is increasing. In our annual survey for Drovers State of the Beef Industry Report, we asked: “To what extent do you agree that an industry-wide traceability system is needed?” The “somewhat agree” and “strongly agree” group totaled 65% of respondents. The “strongly disagree” and “somewhat disagree” responses totaled 15%.”

Drovers State of the Beef Industry 2024 Report

(Farm Journal)

Greg’s column then concluded with this thought: “And I’ll double down on another not-so-bold prediction from six months ago . You want to voluntarily opt-out of traceability? Fine, the industry’s big players — your customers — can opt out of buying your cattle.”

Blackshirt Feeders: Closing the Loop

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 12:41:58 GMT

Despite the smallest U.S. cowherd in 73 years and corresponding tight feeder cattle supplies, the largest cattle feedyard north of the Rio Grande is under construction in Nebraska. When complete, Blackshirt Feeders near Haigler in the far southwest corner of the state, will have a capacity of 150,000 head, all standing on a concrete pad covering a full square mile, replete with an accompanying biodigester.

None of that previous paragraph defies logic, provided you know the track record of the principals involved and understand the growing beef-on-dairy (BxD) phenomenon that has captured the attention of stakeholders throughout the chain — feedyards, dairies, backgrounders, seedstock providers, feed companies and packers. In short, the BxD segment has provided a new profit opportunity for cattle feeders and seedstock suppliers, a lifeline for some dairies, and promises to revolutionize the way the beef industry accepts, captures and uses animal ID and the data it provides.

CLOSED LOOP

The BxD production model offers a unique opportunity for innovators to utilize every available tool and management practice to foster improvement. Specifically, this new model links the semen provider to the dairy to the feedyard in what is called a closed-loop system.

“We’ve long dreamed about this type of system,” says Lee Leachman, CEO of Leachman Cattle, now part of the URUS group of companies. “We supply the semen, and Alta or Genex distributes it to a dairy, then the dairy signs a contract with GK Jim Farms to sell those calves either as day-olds or after a growing period, then they are shipped to the feedlot for finishing.”

Th e contracts stipulate that every calf is tracked from birth with sire, health and performance data. That information is used to determine future matings to improve performance and reduce undesirable characteristics.

“This is a game changer,” Leachman emphasizes. “This enables progress like what we’ve seen in poultry and swine. If you don’t have the loop with the data you can’t make the progress.”

The closed-loop system is already operational at several U.S. feedlots, including five operated by GK Jim Farms in Colorado and Texas.

(Farm Journal)

Veterinarian Kee Jim, principal at GK Jim Farms, says as his company began expanding their beef-on-dairy model they sought to acquire feedlots, but none were available at the scale they desired.

“Three years ago we began investigating what we believe would be the best site to build a new feedlot,” Jim says. “We looked at availability of grain, the climate, proximity to available feeder cattle and proximity to packers.”

That led to the selection of the construction site near Haigler, Neb., in the southwest corner of the state that joins both Kansas and Colorado.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

Designed to be much more than just a large-scale feedlot, Blackshirt Feeders has several unique features that will make it the “most environmentally friendly feedlot on the planet.” That is how it’s described by veterinarian Eric Behlke who is both a founding partner of Blackshirt Feeders and project leader for its construction.

First among the new yard’s unique characteristics is the compressed rolled concrete that will cover every feeding pen. The concrete offers several advantages but is essential to capturing the manure for the biodigester that will be built adjacent to the site.

“The concrete allows for the collection of the manure without contaminating it with dirt, which is essential for a digester,” Behlke says. “But the concrete is impermeable, which provides superior protection for both the groundwater and the surface water. All of the ponds will be lined with high-density HDPE liner, a synthetic liner which is also impermeable, to prevent leaching of nutrients.”

Behlke says Blackshirt Feeders is committed to leveraging the latest technologies and feedlot construction to make the new yard as environmentally sound as possible.

“These efforts will help change the narrative about beef production and make it a much greener process,” Behlke says.

All of which sounds good, but like most agribusinesses today, finding labor is likely an issue, especially in a remote area. The company is already working to ease that problem, Jim says.

“We have plans to construct housing in Wray, Colo., about 20 miles away,” Jim says. “The first 24 units are under construction now.”

DATA AND SCALE

It can be easy for observers to focus on the massive size of Blackshirt Feeders, but it’s much more than an effort by a large player to further capitalize on efficiencies of scale, though that is important.

“What makes our system unique is that our large and ongoing investments in data collection and analysis are what have allowed us to scale our business,” says Holt Tripp, DVM, MBA, director of cattle operations for GK Jim Group of Companies.

Tripp says the company has used rigorous, large-scale, field trials to better understand the biology of the animals they are feeding.

“In turn, we have been able to make consistent incremental progress that allows us to make calculated bets on how, when and where to deploy risk capital in our system,” he says. “We are not using data to describe a system that has already come to scale — we are using data to get to scale. In our minds, anything else would be putting the cart before the horse.”

It’s ironic that an offshoot of the dairy industry might be the catalyst that could drive the beef industry toward expanded use of animal ID and data capture.

“I think eventually these (beef-on-dairy) calves may be better than the average beef-on-beef animals,” Leachman says. “AI’ing millions of dairy cows is a big advantage. We get so much selection pressure. If we don’t have a data feedback loop on beef-on-beef calves, then it will be harder to keep up. If we don’t have data feedback, we won’t be able to make progress as rapidly on the most important traits. Having ID and feedback on economically relevant traits is critical.”

The closed-loop system will eventually find its way to the native beef-on-beef segment.

“Cattle feeders will likely increasingly want to adopt that sort of model,” says Nevil Speer, industry consultant based in Bowling Green, Ky. “Knowing more about the feeder cattle they purchase and subsequently also providing feedback (and payment incentives) based on cattle performance (both in the feedyard and on the rail).”

Data, of course, is the key driver. “There’s more opportunities all the time for beef producers who are willing to embrace participating in a specified supply chain,” Speer explains. “It means giving up some independence, and it requires more accountability, but ultimately willingness to do so will likely also establish new opportunity to maximize the value of genetic and management inputs made at the ranch.”

APHIS To Require Electronic Animal ID for Certain Cattle and Bison

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 18:29:58 GMT

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has taken another step toward limiting the impact of an outbreak of foreign animal diseases by amending and strengthening its animal disease traceability regulations for certain cattle and bison. By requiring electronic animal identification for certain cattle and bison, APHIS put into place the technology, tools and processes to help industry stakeholders quickly pinpoint and respond to a foreign animal disease outbreak.

“Rapid traceability in a disease outbreak will not only limit how long farms are quarantined, keep more animals from getting sick, and help ranchers and farmers get back to selling their products more quickly – but will help keep our markets open,” said Dr. Michael Watson, APHIS administrator.

APHIS said one to the rule’s most significant benefits for farmers and ranchers will be the enhanced ability of the United States to limit impacts of animal disease outbreaks to certain regions, which the agency called a “key to maintaining our foreign markets. By being able to readily prove disease-free status in non-affected regions of the United States, we will be able to request foreign trading partners recognize disease-free regions or zones instead of cutting off trade for the entire country. Traceability of animals is necessary to establish these disease-free zones and facilitate reestablishment of foreign and domestic market access with minimum delay in the wake of an animal disease event.”

The April announcement enhances a rule finalized in 2013 for the official identification of livestock and documentation for certain interstate movements of livestock.

The final rule applies to all sexually intact cattle and bison 18 months of age or older, all dairy cattle, cattle and bison of any age used for rodeo or recreation events, and cattle or bison of any age used for shows or exhibitions.

The rule requires official eartags to be visually and electronically readable for official use for interstate movement of certain cattle and bison, and revises and clarifies certain record requirements related to cattle.

“USDA’s final traceability rule updates the existing requirement for animal identification that has been in place since 2013, switching from solely visual tags to tags that are both electronically and visually readable for certain classes of cattle moving interstate,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president Mark Eisele, a Wyoming rancher.

“Many producers are already familiar with using these visual tags and under the new rule, they will instead use electronic tags. NCBA has worked hard to secure $15 million in funding for producers to reduce the cost of implementing this change. We also remain committed to safeguarding producers’ private data and continuing to reduce the cost of ear tags for farmers and ranchers. Our industry faces a tremendous threat from the risk of a future foreign animal disease on American soil. To avoid devastating financial losses during a potential outbreak and to help producers quickly return to commerce, we need an efficient animal disease traceability system.”

USDA said it is committed to implementing a modern animal disease traceability system that tracks animals from birth to slaughter using affordable technology that allows for quick tracing of sick and exposed animals to stop disease spread. USDA will continue to provide tags to producers free of charge to jumpstart efforts to enable the fastest possible response to a foreign animal disease.

To obtain electronic ID tags at no cost, APHIS directs producers to contact their State Veterinarian.

A copy of this rule may be viewed at the APHIS website, and the rule will be published in the Federal Register in the coming weeks. This rule will be effective 180 days after publication in the Federal Register.

To learn more about animal disease traceability and how APHIS responds to animal disease outbreaks, visit www.aphis.usda.gov.

U.S. CattleTrace and IMI Global Announce Strategic Alliance

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 16:21:29 GMT

In a move to unify the industry behind one effort to accomplish a nationally significant, voluntary animal disease traceability system, U.S. CattleTrace has entered into a strategic alliance with IMI Global, the nation’s largest third-party cattle verification company. This move bolsters U.S. CattleTrace’s mission to build a rapid contact tracing database along with IMI Global’s mission to continue adding value for American beef producers.

“The need for the industry to unite around one effort to accomplish animal disease traceability is paramount to accomplishing our goal of a nationally significant contact tracing program,” said Mark Gardiner, chairman of the U.S. CattleTrace Board of Directors. “With IMI Global’s long history as the industry leader in value-add traceability, I’m excited to see the progress we can make as an industry in accomplishing this important goal.”

John Saunders, CEO of IMI Global, added, “The U.S. cattle industry is unique in terms of animal disease traceability being voluntary across certain sectors, so it is important that leading industry players takes steps to prepare for and effectively mitigate the impact of any future animal disease outbreak.”

The strategic alliance will allow producers to leverage the benefits of value-add traceability opportunities through IMI Global, while also uniquely positioning their operations with the added disease traceability and enhanced biosecurity requirements that will be paramount to business continuity in the face of a disease outbreak.

For more information on U.S. CattleTrace visit uscattletrace.org. For more information on IMI Global visit imiglobal.com.

About:

IMI Global, a division of Where Food Comes From, Inc., is the market leader in third-party verification services, enrolling more than 1.25 million cattle annually in various verification programs. In August 2018, CattleTrace Inc. was formally established as a private, not-for-profit corporation to securely maintain and manage the data collected as part of the disease traceability pilot project. A board of directors with representatives from cow-calf, livestock market and cattle feeding sectors was named to lead CattleTrace Inc. In January 2020, the board voted to change the name to U.S. CattleTrace Inc. to formally establish the multi-state initiative to advance disease traceability.

8 Reasons Why Beef-on-Dairy Makes the Perfect Cross

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 19:44:38 GMT

The beef-on-dairy revolution is booming. What started as a trend more than a decade ago has quickly grown into a reliable profit stream for dairy farmers across the country. As milk prices continue to sink lower, more and more dairy producers are turning their attention to creating a healthy beef cross calf to generate additional income for their farms.

“Even though we’ve gotten to a position to where beef-on-dairy is becoming more well-known, the reality is dairymen have been beef producers all along – whether that’s been through cull cows are bull calves,” says Dale Woerner, Professor and Cargill Endowed Professor at Texas Tech University. “However, as beef prices have crept up, the beef-on-dairy segment has seen an explosion.”

Just five years ago there were approximately 25.4 million cattle fed through feedlots that were harvested year-over-year, according to Woerner. Traditionally, about 5.1 million of those animals had been purebred dairy heifers or steers. However, this number has seen a drastic change.

“Since 2018, we’ve seen a major shift with beef-on-dairy crossbreds. We don’t know exactly how many of these animals are coming through as crossbreds, but we’re confident that it’s over 3.25 to 3.5 million head of beef-on-dairy cross animals that used to be strictly purebred dairy,” Woerner says.

This proportion has grown tremendously within the last few years, and it is estimated that almost 23% of the total number of fed steers and heifers within the U.S. are actually coming from dairies.

So, what’s the reason for this recent spike? As a result of widespread drought across the mid- and southwest, the beef cow herd has shrunk significantly. However, with more and more dairies relying on beef-on-dairy calves to help turn a profit, these operations have helped fill the meat cases.

“The dairy segment of the beef industry has grown in significance the last few years even more so than it had traditionally,” Woerner adds. “It’s created the perfect storm and that’s why you’re seeing the exceptionally high values.”

As more dairy crossbreds make their way into the marketing chain, Woerner and his research team have closely examined the characteristics of these animals and the products they yield, compared to their full-blood dairy and beef cousins. Their findings regarding major performance and carcass data – via retrospective data evaluation, and their own research -- include:

Feedlot growth – Close-out data evaluations show that the average daily gain and feed-to-gain ratio of crossbreds is significantly better than Holsteins and similar to conventional beef cattle. Woerner said crossbred finishing times that are about 20% faster than Holsteins promote a positive message about sustainability because they produce the same amount of beef in a shorter timeframe and on less total feed.

Quality grade – The Texas Tech researchers found the percentage of crossbreds that grade Choice or higher is roughly equal to, if not better than, conventional beef animals. They appear to inherit the superior marbling capability of their Holstein ancestors but at a faster finishing pace.

Carcass yield -- Crossbreds have a lower dressing percentage than full-blood beef animals, at least partly because they are leaner and thus have lighter carcasses relative to their live weight. They have, on average, an intermediate fat thickness at the 12th rib between that of full-blood beef and dairy animals. Overall, they have higher red meat yield than dairy carcasses, and the best crossbreds are comparable to, or even better than, conventional beef cattle.

Eating quality – A recent study by Woerner’s group showed full-blood Holsteins still take first place in terms of tenderness, followed by crossbreds and then conventional beef. Crossbreds led among the three in terms of superior flavor, with the most “fat-like” and “buttery” flavor ratings. Overall, they were scored the second-most desirable in terms of eating quality behind Holsteins.

Meat color – A major downfall of traditional dairy beef is that it has a darker color and lacks the “cherry-red” appearance of conventional beef, which consumers prefer. The difference is so distinct that most retailers will not market dairy beef and conventional beef in the same meat case. The Texas Tech researchers found that crossbreeding removes the coloring problem, and also results in an additional 12-24 hours of color stability. “This is a huge change in our industry,” Woerner says. “Rather than segregating Holsteins, we can now sell crossbreds together with conventional cattle.”

Muscle shape – The smaller, narrower, and more angular shape of finished Holstein loins has long been a drawback for dairy beef. The Texas Tech researchers found that crossbred longissimus (loin) muscles are larger and rounder than Holsteins, and that consumers could not distinguish their shape compared to those from conventional beef cattle.

Consistency – Dairy animals produce a consistent supply of offspring year-round, which helps improve market stability. Today’s dairy cattle also are highly consistent genetically, creating potential for excellent offspring consistency with correct sire matings.

Traceability – “Record-keeping on U.S. dairies is superior to most conventional beef operations,” Woerner says. “That information on birthdate, performance data, and sire identification is highly valuable for branded beef programs and international markets.”

For more on beef-on-dairy, read:

Registration Open For 2023 U.S. CattleTrace Symposium

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 18:49:41 GMT

Registration is open for the 2023 U.S. CattleTrace Symposium, which will be held November 14 and 15 at the American Royal Center, Kansas City, Mo. With an emphasis on collaboration, education and execution, the symposium allows attendees the opportunity to learn more about current animal disease traceability response tools within the U.S. and help provide input on how a voluntary contact tracing tool can enhance potential responses in the future.

There is no cost to attend the symposium, but it is important that attendees register in order to provide adequate meeting materials and to have accurate meal counts. Attendees can register online and reserve a room at www.uscattletrace.org/2023symposium .

If you have questions about the 2023 U.S. CattleTrace Symposium, contact the U.S. CattleTrace
team at (785) 821-1082 or email info@UScattletrace.org.

About CattleTrace Inc.
In August 2018, CattleTrace Inc. was formally established as a private, not-for-profit corporation
to securely maintain and manage the data collected as part of the disease traceability pilot
project. A board of directors with representatives from cow-calf, livestock market and cattle
feeding sectors was named to lead CattleTrace Inc. In January 2020, the board voted to change
the name to U.S. CattleTrace Inc. to formally establish the multi-state initiative to advance
disease traceability

MyAnIML Expands Predictive Health Platform Using Muzzles To Detect Disease

Wed, 10 May 2023 14:22:06 GMT

To better enable early disease prediction in cattle, agtech startup MyAnIML™ announced today a hardware update designed to support the implementation of its AI-enabled predictive health platform in commercial feedlot and dairy operations.

MyAnIML’s newly released Bluetooth-enabled cattle ear tag integrates geolocation and tracking capabilities with its powerful predictive health modeling technology to help producers manage the productivity and welfare of their herds cost-effectively.

MyAnIML’s patent-pending technology employs artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict a broad range of total health indicators using the industry’s first cattle facial - specifically muzzle - recognition library dataset, designed and built by MyAnIML. Together, the hardware and software stack offers the global beef and dairy industries a more precise method of herd health management when profit margins continue to be razor thin and the cost of meat, dairy and other food products remain high.

Based on a comprehensive analysis of cattle lost to diseases, cost of medical treatment and low productivity impacts, MyAnIML estimates the U.S. cattle industry loses approximately $200 billion annually. For example, just one disease, Bovine Respiratory (BRD), costs the U.S. feedlot industry up to $900 million annually in treatment costs although recent reports indicate that total industry losses from BRD are actually much higher when productivity losses are factored in, according to the American Society of Animal Science .

The MyAnIML platform successfully predicts cattle infected with BRD two to three days before visual symptoms are observed, allowing producers to isolate the animal and start earlier treatment. BRD is just one of many diseases and health metrics MyAnIML identifies days before other health technologies, using subtle changes in a cow’s muzzle as a health indicator.

“We know from advances in human biometrics and deep-learning technology that the face can be a reliable predictor of disease. Using the same concept, we can now “fingerprint” an individual cow’s muzzle to monitor its health and predict a variety of issues days in advance,” said Shekhar Gupta, MyAnIML’s founder and CEO, who discovered and commercialized the first-of-its-kind technology solution in animal agriculture. “By addressing symptoms early, we can better ensure the health and well-being of the entire herd for a more reliable and efficient food supply chain.”

Predictive Analytics Reduces Antibiotics Use and Creates More Resilient Supply Chains

In addition to preventing economically significant disease outbreaks, MyAnIML helps cattle producers use antibiotics more efficiently, reducing costs and inhibiting the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a rising concern amongst human health professionals.

More than 70% of all medically important antibiotics sold in the U.S. are used in livestock production. The cattle industry takes up the bulk of that demand, using antibiotics to treat sick animals and as a preventative measure. A typical 5000-head feedlot spends $250,000 annually on antibiotics just to preemptively treat calves for BRD, Gupta said.

“Antibiotics have been a powerful tool to keep U.S. herds healthy, but by identifying infected animals days earlier in the disease cycle, producers can use antibiotics more efficiently when they need to support a sick animal and reduce the need for preemptive antibiotics. It’s a win-win for producers and consumer health,” Gupta said.

AI and Bluetooth Ear Tags for Animal Agriculture Offer Immediate Benefits for Ranchers

MyAnIML’s bluetooth ear tag was developed specifically to help large-scale commercial feedlots and stockyards implement the MyAnIML predictive health technology into their day-to-day operations.

Unlike other ear tag technology in the marketplace, including RFID tags, the MyAnIML tag helps pen riders quickly find a specific animal in a pen simply by using their mobile device, saving hours of labor time and more rapidly removing sick animals from the herd.

“In a large-scale, or even small-scale system, being able to accurately predict a sick cow is a huge benefit. But the follow-up of finding that animal can be a huge problem,” said Nathan Leiker, a northwestern Kansas cow-calf and feedlot operator using the MyAnIML technology since early 2022. “MyAnIML’s Bluetooth ear tags connect the dots between disease prediction and animal identification. All I have to do is push a button on my phone and it takes me directly to the cow I want. It’s the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack with a magnet. “

How it works:

Cameras strategically mounted take multiple images of a cow’s muzzle daily, monitoring for changes.
These images are analyzed using AI and machine learning against a library of health indicators.
The rancher is emailed a health alert report, with ID specific to each animal flagged with a muzzle change.
Producers open the app to find a predicted sick animal’s location and once within 20 meters, use the app’s directional arrow and buzzing noise to lead them directly to the target animal.

Commercially available in the U.S. since 2022 with multiple large installations and pilot projects underway in 2023, MyAnIML has attracted interest internationally and plans rapid scale-up in the coming years. Ranchers or dairy producers interested in implementing the technology can visit myaniml.com for more information.

About MyAniML

MyAnIML, an AI startup for animal agriculture, invented and commercialized the first-of-its-kind platform for early disease prediction in cattle using facial recognition technology focused on a cow’s muzzle. The initial discovery is the product of intense curiosity and a sense of purpose by the founder, a computer scientist, and his wife, a physician. Founded in 2021, MyAnIML’s mission is to help ensure the health and well-being of cattle while ensuring an affordable and safe food supply. Partnering with veterinarians, land grant universities and ranchers, the company’s experience developing and scaling data platforms for other industries is now being applied to animal agriculture. For more information www.myaniml.com .

Why Animal Disease Traceability Matters to Cattle Producers

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 22:20:41 GMT

Question of the Week: Who is on your team?

I like to think of people working on or for cattle operations as members of that operation’s team and it is imperitive that all members of the team work together for the best interest of the ranch.

That team can consists of employees, veterinarians, nutritionists, accountants, bankers, other ranchers or anyone else who helps drive your ranch forward.

Do you have a list of who is on your team and are they all on the same page with the direction you want the ranch to go?

Why Animal Disease Traceability Matters to Cattle Producers

Callahan Grund is a cow-calf producer in Kansas but is extremely passionate about his day job with U.S. CattleTrace. Grund is the Executive Director for this non-profit company that focuses on building a nationally significant traceability system for animal disease in the beef industry. Grund shares what traceability and biosecurity are, why they matter to all cow-calf producers in the United States and some potential solutions being explored to create an effective traceability system.

What is Traceability?

Traceability, the quality of having an origin or course of development that may be found or followed. This is the definition of traceability provided by Google. This is a broad definition of a word that can be used to describe consumers’ desire to know where their food comes from, marketing cattle in a way that allows feeders to know the genetic basis and origin of cattle and the ability to track the origin of a disease if there is an outbreak. When you think about all the different buckets of traceability, the United States already has a partial system. The use of EIDs and RFIDs and the use of value-added programs has created a degree of traceability starting in the cow-calf sector. However, when it comes to disease traceability; there is not a complete system in place. Grund said, “Having 70% of the industry participating in a traceability system would be nationally significant.” He hopes to see the industry there in the next 10 years, but there is still some work that needs to be done.

Why Does this Matter to Beef Producers?

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is currently in two-thirds of the world. Even though FMD hasn’t been seen in the U.S. since 1929, it is something beef producers need to be cautious of. If you are wondering why beef producers need to be concerned about FMD even though it isn’t in the United States, it is because of the economic impact it could have on individual ranches, rural communities and the entire beef supply chain.

Grund said, “We do need to be prepared because we’ve seen other segments of the protein industry impacted by animal diseases. The swine industry was faced with African swine fever and the poultry industry with high-path avian influenza. These diseases are real and they’re detrimental to business. We can all see that with the price of eggs right now. The price increase is not just because of inflation, that is because of high-path avian influenza. So you know, trying to work on those traceability systems and those tools is really important. It will allow us to be on a level playing field with the rest of the world and be able to continue to be a leader like we are in the protein segment across the world today.”

The other aspect cattle producers need to understand about animal diseases is how quickly they can spread. “Think about the tip of a ballpoint pen as Foot and Mouth Disease. If I stick it in the water at a feedyard, that’s enough variant to affect 10,000 head of cattle. So, think about how rapidly that can spread. If those 10,000 head were in a pen right beside a road and a truck drives by, they’re shedding enough virus at that point to infect a truck that is 20-30 yards away from them at that point. So, it spreads literally like wildfire. That’s why it’s important to have a system that could quickly and accurately trace it, to be able to isolate those diseases,” said Grund.

Now, what happens when FMD or another major animal disease occurs in the United States? Ultimately, things need to be shut down to stop the spread of the disease and find the source. Without a traceability system, there is no telling how long this would take but we do know that halting business would be detrimental to cow-calf producers and economies that rely on agriculture.

Biosecurity & Traceability Solutions

Currently, the United States has done a great job improving the education component of this industry challenge. However, we still have a long way to go. Grund likes to think about traceability from the perspective of each state. “The reason I talk about it from a state perspective is I think in the U.S., that’s where traceability and disease preparedness and response really start and end. You know, USDA is a good support function in that realm, but the states are kind of the leaders as it regards to traceability, and how that works for not only the beef cattle industry but other segments of the agricultural industry too,” said Grund.

Traceability looks different in each country, but where other countries have an advantage on the United States is that they have more tools in the toolbox to create a bookend system if needed that can track cattle from birth to harvest and through ownership changes.

Grund said, “You know, thinking about some of the other countries from a traceability perspective, that’s a tool that’s not currently in our toolbox today. We have the ability to do some bookend traces, and we have a system that works pretty good for cattle over the age of 18 months. But if you look at our whole food supply chain, there’s a really big piece of the puzzle missing, and that’s feeder cattle. You know, they’re the cattle that move the most and provide the most meat into our supply chain. From a food security standpoint, that’s something that we need to take a hard look at is how do we start incorporating that class of cattle into a traceability realm to allow our animal health officials to have the opportunity to be just as good as every other country out there from a traceability perspective, trade perspective and a business continuity perspective if we ever get into a disease outbreak?”

The use of EIDs is one opportunity to create a bookend traceability system in the United States. Cattle would have to be assigned one of these tags once they leave their ranch of origin or before to make this system effective. The cost of EID tags ranges from $2-$6. These prices are slightly higher when compared to the price of a regular dangle tag that is already being used but does not include the price of any software or other readers to go with them. Grund encourages cattle producers to think about how using EIDs and software that goes with them can help them be better managers through data collection and analysis along with being a part of the animal disease traceability solution.

At the end of the day cattle producers need to understand what would happen if a disease outbreak would occur and think about how that would impact not only their livelihoods but also the economic impact it would have on their rural communities. It’s not so much a matter of if it happens so much as when. Ask yourself, how can you do your part to prepare your operation, state and country for such a scenario.

2022 U.S. CattleTrace Symposium Slated for Kansas City

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 19:05:52 GMT

The 2022 U.S. CattleTrace Symposium, will be held November 17 and 18 at the at the American Royal Center in Kansas City, MO.

The U.S. CattleTrace Symposium will bring together cattle producers, industry professionals and technology manufacturers to learn and discuss animal disease traceability and value-added opportunities.

Participants will learn more about U.S. CattleTrace and its operations, hear from leaders in the technology and animal industries, and have a seat at the table of animal disease traceability discussions related to value.

“Last year, the input we received from producers located around the country assisted our team in making the many developments achieved possible,” U.S. CattleTrace Executive Director Callahan Grund said. “Building on our previous events, participants will come together to explore a unified voice for industry-led animal disease traceability in the United States. When we come to the table as an industry, anything can be accomplished.”

Registration for the symposium will remain open through November 15. To stay up-to-date about news regarding the U.S. CattleTrace Symposium, including speaker announcements and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.uscattletrace.org/2022symposium .

USDA Hands Responsibility of RFID Traceability Efforts to APHIS

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 04:19:45 GMT

There are new developments in the rules and tracing of cattle via RFID tags, AgDay’s Clinton Griffiths reports. The USDA has announced it will not finalize a plan introduced by the Trump Administration to approve Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags as the official ear tag for interstate movement of cattle.

Instead, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will use the rule making process for future actions on RFID tags. APHIS has said this means all current approved ID methods can be used until further notice but adds the RFID tags provide the “best protection against the rapid spread of animal diseases,” Griffiths says.

Easier Said ... But It Must Be Done

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 16:13:01 GMT

As many, if not all, in animal agriculture can attest, conversations, meetings and research around traceability, information systems, animal identification and sustainability have been happening for several decades. So, why does the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) and Farm Journal sense now is the time to foster a more robust conversation?

Because if we, who believe strongly animal-derived proteins are good for people, do not share animal agriculture’s story, those who wish to diminish or eliminate animal agriculture from today’s food system will lead the conversation. Sadly, in several cases, they are already forming the narrative.

Mission Critical

Farm Journal and NIAA are both internal animal agriculture organizations. As a leading voice in the swine, beef, dairy and veterinary sectors, Farm Journal’s mission is to purposefully share relevant content with you, its readers, as well as listen. After all, today’s communication model is more two-way than one-way.

NIAA’s mission is to convene animal agriculture experts and allies to explore, discuss, learn and develop knowledge that fosters interdisciplinary cooperation. Since 1916, NIAA has been focused on the continuous progress of animal agriculture.

Staying true to our missions, neither of our organizations are in spaces that engage with shoppers, influencers and others affecting the social license of animal agriculture. However, we can foster conversation and exploration that provides for well-informed decision-making by those in animal agriculture and those who engage with shoppers and influencers — checkoffs, trade associations and allied industries.

Two-Way Communication

Let’s start with a more robust dialogue that focuses on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats at the intersection of traceability, information systems, animal identification and sustainability. We will explore and learn through research insights, case studies and point-counterpoint-style deeper dives. And we most certainly want to live up to today’s two-way communication model. Feedback and dialogue are encouraged and, quite frankly, required for success, whether through email, webinars or in-person gatherings.

Our work is not to advocate for a certain outcome or decision. As the facilitator of this conversation, we might introduce research or insights that challenge our thinking. We might allow for threads of conversation to be fully explored before moving on to the next. But no matter, we always want to ensure we live up to the expectation our stakeholders have come to expect — a place where tough issues can be explored and discussed in a collaborative manner.

Advancement is Necessary

It has been said there is no issue so great that reasonable people cannot come together to solve it. We will identify and bring those reasonable people in our industry together.

It also has been said that humankind has yet to develop a technology or innovation that is not used. While some innovations might be replaced by more advanced systems, it is hard, if not impossible, to identify advancements that have been “shelved” simply because we’ve decided not to use them. Just like communities went from communicating with letters and postcards to telegraphs then the telephone and onto email and text messaging, there are numerous examples in animal agriculture of similar advancements.

In the coming months, Farm Journal and NIAA look forward to exploring the intersection of traceability, information systems, animal identification and sustainability with you.

Farm Journal and the National Institute for Animal Agriculture Team Up to Help Animal Ag Share Its Story

Tue, 24 May 2022 19:55:11 GMT

“Everybody works for somebody. Me, I work for everybody in these United States that steps into a butcher’s shop for a T-bone steak, and you work for me. There’s not much difference.”

In the 1963 western movie McLintock!, G.W. McLintock, played by John Wayne, shared that succinct description on how the protein value chain works with a ranch hand. However, like many aspects of business and life, we know ensuring a safe, wholesome, affordable food supply is a bit more detailed and intertwined than McLintock describes.

Not to make this too convoluted but each of these factors is a proverbial onion with many layers — and the more you peel the more you might experience a bit of discomfort before you reach the glorious result. You might say it’s like caramelized onions on a juicy steak or chop – representative of consumer trust in animal-derived proteins and animal agriculture’s social license to operate.

Now, add one more layer to the onion – the one pertinent to this discussion. How does animal agriculture collectively ensure we meet shoppers’ and buyers’ increased interest in and demand for greater transparency about the meat, poultry, milk, eggs and fish they choose for themselves and their loved ones?

While more complicated than this, consumer trust and social license are preserved and enhanced with data points that when aggregated and looked at holistically “tell” a story — a story of a protein-rich food that is delicious, nutritious, sustainable and accessible. Farm Journal and the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA), in a newly formed program that explores the intersection of traceability, information systems, animal identification and sustainability, believe these four areas can guide animal agriculture to its “story.”

As leaders from Farm Journal and NIAA first began discussing this collaborative initiative, foundational research was conducted of farmers and ranchers raising beef and dairy cattle and pigs. Many data points from this inaugural research when combined with consumer/shopper research indicate there are many reasons it is time to more fully explore how animal identification, information systems and traceability contribute to the sustainability – environmental stewardship, social responsibility and economic viability, of animal agriculture. The below data points are of particular interest.

In their annual Power of Meat study , the Food Industry Association (FMI) and the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) continue to find consumers believe “meat/poultry belong in a healthy, balanced diet” – 76% agreed with this statement in 2020 and 73% in 2021.

Permission to Consume

Insights from the same studies demonstrate to animal agriculture the need to give consumers “permission” to consume animal-derived proteins. The need for “permission” stems from increased interest in how animal agriculture affects health and wellness, environmental stewardship, animal welfare, worker health and safety, and more. To provide this “permission,” animal agriculture needs to share its story, which must include robust data points.

Through this collaboration, Farm Journal and NIAA will:

Explore and dive into the market conditions affecting beef, dairy and pork, such as foreign animal disease landscapes; export demand and opportunities; consumer trust; and on-farm and ranch management.
Provide a platform to explore the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to greater connectivity among traceability, information systems, animal identification and sustainability – providing examples of lessons learned and best practices.
Highlight management practices and technology from aspiration to action.
Build consensus within animal agriculture.
Benchmark annual research exploring farmers’ and ranchers’ attitudes and practices affecting traceability, information systems, animal identification and sustainability.

Over the past several years, conversations about animal identification, sustainability, traceability and information systems have occurred sporadically and, for the most part, in silos. Today, individuals and organizations from around the globe are having a constant conversation about these four areas and how they relate.

Google trends indicate the rising interest areas within animal agriculture are climate change, meat as a food and greenhouse gasses. A Google Trends search for “meat” shows on a scale of 0 to 100 with 0 signifying little interest and 100 maximum interest, “meat” interest went from 24 in January 2004 to 73 in March 2022. For comparison, “alternative protein,” scored a 18 in January 2004 and a 76 in March 2022.

Monitoring the public’s interest in alternative proteins can indicate their attitudes about animal-derived proteins as both plant and cell-cultured proteins rely on environmental stewardship and social responsibility claims to compete with animal-derived proteins. While shoppers might not significantly switch from animal-derived proteins to alternative proteins, their interest can lead to greater rules and regulations that affect animal agriculture’s social license.

Together, Farm Journal and NIAA believe animal agriculture leaders need to come together to be a leading voice in these conversations. After all, if animal agriculture does not lead conversations, it will be “on the table, not at the table.” There’s a difference.

The time is now for this more robust and meaningful conversation. Are you ready to be “at the table” or “on the table”?

Profitability Potential Steers Producer Support of Traceability Efforts

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 16:40:53 GMT

Traceability has the attention of lawmakers. In the last month, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that included a directive to USDA to consider new rules defining when meat can bear “Product of USA” labels to increase transparency for consumers. On the heels of this, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA would work to restore the Packers and Stockyards Act in an effort to level the playing field for farmers and ranchers.

But what do producers think? Farm Journal conducted a survey to glean livestock producers’ thoughts traceability in the United States. Consider these insights:

U.S. producers are split over the need for a nationwide traceability system

According to the Farm Journal Traceability Study, 62% of livestock producers—a group that included beef, dairy and hog producers—said they were in favor of a nationwide traceability system. This is an increase over a February 2021 Drovers Pulse Poll of beef producers that showed 52% approved of a nationwide traceability system. Approval dropped to 43% in a dairy producer Pulse Poll.

(Farm Journal)

RFID is a lynchpin to traceability

The Farm Journal Traceability Study showed 33% of respondents use RFID. And, for those in favor of a nationwide traceability system, 42% use RFID in their operation compared to only 18% of those who oppose traceability.

This has proven to be a controversial topic in recent years that includes a lawsuit to prevent mandatory RFID and another one to ensure USDA adheres to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Even so, USDA maintains RFID devices will provide states and the cattle and bison industries with the best opportunity to rapidly contain the spread of high economic impact diseases.

(Farm Journal)

Profitability still drives the cattle market

Farm Journal’s Traceability Study dug into what would drive more producers to support traceability. The No. 1 answer: profitability. In fact, 68% of all respondents say they expect some level of return on investment for sharing their data, regardless of whether they are in favor of traceability.

But how much money are we talking about? For those in favor of a nationwide traceability system, 30% of respondents said that it should be $11 or more per head. For those opposed to a nationwide traceability system, that number jumps to 44% who expect $11 per head or more.

(Farm Journal)

What’s steering producers’ opinions?

The top reason producers would participate in a traceability program is to track disease outbreaks. For those opposed, the second highest reason would be to qualify for a premium or branded program.

Traceability has two fronts : one to track diseases and one to address consumer issues that impact producers’ bottom lines. While consumers want to buy products that match their personal values, producers need a means to meet those demands that makes sense for their operations.

Contact Farm Journal to learn more information on this study and our commitment to traceability.

(Farm Journal)

Visit the Drovers Traceability Center for complete coverage.

Cargill Joins U.S. CattleTrace to Support Development of National Disease Traceability System

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 20:41:57 GMT

Cargill, the global food, agricultural, financial and industrial products company, announced that it has joined U.S. CattleTrace as an official packer member. Cargill is the second beef processor to invest in the effort formed by multiple state cattlemen’s organizations to develop a national infrastructure for animal disease traceability in the U.S. cattle industry.

“Reducing the impact of disease is critical for the U.S. Beef herd which is why we’re excited to join the U.S. CattleTrace program and champion its efforts to improve global competitiveness and food safety across the value chain,” said Jarrod Gillig, business operations and supply chain lead for Cargill’s North American protein business. “At Cargill, we’ve long been focused on enhancing the traceability and resilience of our supply chains and believe our partnership with U.S. CattleTrace can help move the industry forward.”

U.S. CattleTrace will assist animal health officials by responding to events of foreign animal disease within the U.S. cattle herd to limit any impact to daily operations and help maintain access to important beef export markets.

“Cargill is a leader of sustainability in the agricultural industry, so to have them as a partner in animal health and disease traceability in our country is exciting,” said Brandon Depenbusch, chair of the U.S. CattleTrace Board of Directors. “Cattle industry leaders have provided input that in order to create and sustain a producer-led traceability system, all industry sectors need to be involved. This commitment from an industry leader shows that no-matter where we come from in the cattle industry, we are all working towards a common goal of protecting our nation’s herd and the highest quality, most sustainable beef product in the world.”

Using eartags and radio frequency technologies, U.S. CattleTrace collects critical data, including individual animal identification numbers as well as the date, time and GPS location of the animal. The program utilizes the collected data to track animals in the event of a disease outbreak, as well as track the animal from birth location to each location they travel prior to reaching a processor for harvest.

An ear tag with an electronic chip interacts with the radio frequency emitted by the reader. Tags are electronic but not battery operated, meaning they can last the lifetime of the animal.

The new U.S. CattleTrace initiative combines the efforts of CattleTrace, which included multiple partners from across the country, as well as traceability pilot projects in Florida and Texas. The partner organizations include the Kansas Livestock Association, Florida Cattlemen’s Association, Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association.

Cargill’s North America protein business produces fresh, frozen and cooked beef, turkey, pork, chicken and egg protein offerings, sauces, soups, case ready products, pet treats and by-products for retail, foodservice and food ingredient customers.

U.S. CattleTrace Releases Membership Model

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 16:57:22 GMT

U.S. CattleTrace , the industry-driven initiative for animal disease traceability, announced the release of its model for membership in the organization. As a not-for-profit who securely maintains and manages data collected as part of disease traceability, U.S. CattleTrace members will provide direction to the producer-led Board of Directors regarding the direction of the organization. In addition to their input, U.S. CattleTrace members will receive benefits such as access to educational materials, networking opportunities with other industry segments and up-to-date news regarding traceability.

“We are excited to welcome members to U.S. CattleTrace and grow our network of disease traceability advocates,” Callahan Grund, Executive Director of U.S. CattleTrace, said. “Without buy-in from all segments of the cattle industry, disease traceability will not be achievable. That is why we look forward to membership from each our segments, including individual producers, industry stakeholders and more.”

U.S. CattleTrace offers membership in each of the following segments:

Cow/Calf Producer Member - Designed for individuals who are actively engaged in the ownership or management of cattle used to produce beef as well as individuals with a vested interest in the cattle industry, specifically advancing disease traceability within it.
Auction Market Member - Designed for individuals who are actively involved in the management of a livestock auction market.
Feedyard Member – Designed for businesses who are actively involved in cattle management and feeding.
Allied Industry Member - Designed for animal industry associates to join U.S. CattleTrace and our cattle industry members in building a nationally significant animal disease traceability system.

To learn more about how to become a member or to fill out a membership application, visit www.uscattletrace.org/membership

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Easier Said ... But It Must Be Done

Mission Critical

Two-Way Communication

Advancement is Necessary

Read More

Farm Journal and the National Institute for Animal Agriculture Team Up to Help Animal Ag Share Its Story

Farm Journal and the National Institute for Animal Agriculture Team Up to Help Animal Ag Share Its Story

Permission to Consume

Profitability Potential Steers Producer Support of Traceability Efforts

Cargill Joins U.S. CattleTrace to Support Development of National Disease Traceability System

U.S. CattleTrace Releases Membership Model