Wyoming recently passed House Bill 0229, the Livestock Identification Choice Act, which will allow cattle and bison producers in the state to have the choice to choose between livestock identification methods.
The bill was sponsored by a group of 16 Republican senators. Producers will be able to use any form of identification referenced in USDA’s 2013 final rule over animal identification and traceability, including brands, tattoos, metal or plastic eartags, back tags, and group identification numbers.
Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) celebrated the legislation. “The law provides that ranchers everywhere can choose to identify their property—their livestock—in the manner that best suits their operations,” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard in a statement. “USDA tried unlawfully to take that choice away. The state of Wyoming has now ensured it won’t happen again.”
