The results of a major traceability study were presented during the 2018 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA’s) annual conference and trade show last week.
The feasibility study was conducted by World Perspectives Inc. as part of NCBA’s 2016-2020 Beef Industry Long Range Plan. The report’s findings were summarized at the closing session of the Cattlemen’s College.
The report will be examined by WLJ in the coming week. Look for more in-depth coverage in next week’s paper.
World Perspectives employees David Gregg and Dave Juday presented some high points of the report. They called the findings a starting point for shifting the narrative on a possible animal ID traceability program. The topic has been a controversial topic in the past.
The producer responses to the extensive questionnaires and interviews that went into making the report revealed some surprising results.
Regarding government involvement, Gregg reported that producers were generally neutral.
“They don’t strongly oppose, and they don’t strongly support,” Gregg said. Almost 40 percent of surveyed respondents gave the neutral answer on the question of government involvement. “That is an opportunity for industry discussion.”
Gregg also noted that the majority of respondents were strongly in favor of making information from an animal ID system available to the government in cases of animal disease.
“Strong support for that component,” Gregg highlighted.
“Clearly the stakeholders in the industry identify the government as a stakeholder and potentially a partner in managing a disease outbreak.”
The recurring obstacle to adoption of an animal ID traceability systems was a lack of cooperation across the different segments of the industry. Representatives from every segment of the industry said this.
“The thing about the beef and cattle value chain is that for any sector to get a benefit from [a management change], they have to rely on the participation of all the sectors in the chain,” noted Juday.
“If that is a common obstacle, it’s also an opportunity for moving forward.” — Kerry Halladay, WLJ editor
