What New Animal Traceability Rules Mean for Pacific NW Ranchers

What New Animal Traceability Rules Mean for Pacific NW Ranchers

I’m KayDee Gilkey with today’s Open Range.

USDA announced the final rule establishing general regulations for improving the traceability of U.S. livestock moving interstate. This final rule took into consideration the public comments received and looks different than the original rule that was issued in August 2011.

Washington Cattlemen’s Association President Vic Stokes said he is pleased at the results of the new rule because USDA listened to the public comments and didn’t try and reinvent the wheel.

Stokes: “They starting using programs that were already in place like interstate certificates of veterinary inspection, they’ve included the back tags for direct slaughter cattle and the brand program and various tattoos and brand registrations. Things that were already in place that didn’t need to be reinvented. It made the cattle industry -- especially those in the beef cattle industry very thankful that they went in that direction.”

For Pacific Northwest ranchers moving cattle interstate, it will be business as usual as there won’t be any changes to what they are currently doing.

Stokes: “That certainly works well for us in the Northwest in Washington and Idaho, and Oregon because we are all brand states and we all have rules in place to move cattle between our states and other brand states. It was certainly relieved to us to see that put in place.”

Beef cattle under 18 months of age, unless they are moved interstate for shows, exhibitions, rodeos, or recreational events, are exempt from the official ID requirement in this rule. Those specific traceability requirements will be addressed separately in the future.