California Beef Industry Stakeholders Meet To Discuss National Animal Identification System
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 28, 2006
Joe Wills
530-898-4143
Kasey Deatley
College of Agriculture
530-898-4539
Holly Foster
Agricultural Consultant
530-570-0757
California Beef Industry Stakeholders Meet To Discuss National Animal Identification System
Representatives from all segments of the beef industry met in Chico Sept. 21-22 to identify strengths and weaknesses of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) and to offer recommendations to improve the program for Western beef producers.
The Beef Identification Academy was organized by California State University, Chico and was sponsored through funding from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).
"We felt it was necessary to hold this forum because we have observed a growing disconnect between NAIS and the Western beef industry," said Dave Daley, professor of animal science at CSU, Chico. "We believed it was critical to bring industry leadership together to gain a clear understanding of the National Animal Identification System from a government perspective, but also to provide recommendations that would help improve the development of an effective traceability program that benefits the entire cattle industry.
"Everyone who attended the Beef Identification Academy recognized the merit of a uniform national animal identification system to benefit industry-wide goals such as animal disease tracking, access to export markets and helping to assure consumer confidence. The challenges with NAIS come with practical implementation at the ranch or production level. These challenges are magnified in the Western United States," said Daley, who moderated the program.
The approximately 75 participants performed an analysis of NAIS to identify strengths and weaknesses, and also developed a set of recommendations to improve the program's implementation. The groups' findings will be compiled in a white paper to be distributed later this year. A committee of academy participants will review the white paper, and the findings will be presented to industry trade associations.
"Our goal was to develop meaningful input to help guide both policy recommendations from our industry trade associations and to also better identify challenges for implementing NAIS in the West," added Daley.
In addition to the discussions, attendees had a chance to hear presentations from a variety of speakers, including officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, CDFA and researchers from Colorado State University, Montana State University and UC Davis with experience in animal identification programs. Private sector industry participants also discussed animal identification technology and marketing opportunities through individual animal identification. Demonstrations of animal identification technology solutions were also given in a hands-on workshop.
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