The USDA has set goals for a voluntary national I.D. system for cattle but what’s the cost to producers?
Dr. Jack Shere, chief veterinarian for the USDA, says when you ask U.S. cattle producers the thing that comes up time and time again is the cost of the tags, “If we can do different things to reduce that cost and go with the standard electronic I.D. system across the nation, we can advance traceability tremendously.”
Shere says the USDA is looking at buying tags in bulk and proposes a three way cost-share: 1/3 federal government, 1/3 states and 1/3 producers, “It may reduce the tag to as little as 50-cents for the producer.
Continue reading USDA chief vet on efforts to keep ID tag costs low at Brownfield Ag News.
