U.S. Animal ID System To Be Ready by 2007, Official Says

[AGENDA21]

Washington -- The U.S. national system to track livestock from birth to slaughter will take effect in 2007 and is expected to achieve full voluntary participation from livestock producers by 2009, says Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns.

The system will allow the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to identify all herd-mates of a diseased animal within 48 hours of the discovery of a serious livestock illness, he said during an April 6 press briefing.

"This represents one of the largest systemic changes ever faced by the livestock industry," the secretary said.

The "massive" project that will account for some 100 million head of cattle in the United States is being implemented on a "very aggressive schedule," he said.

USDA began to implement the first stages of the system -- called the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) -- in 2004, shortly after the first case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, was discovered in one cow in December 2003.

http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=April&x=20060407120205AKllennoCcM0.4532282&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html

[Mr.Green93]

1. More than just cows

It is every animal and the place where they reside.

[Trish1168]

2. Even chicken's, I read

Does this make sense? Chickens live only six weeks!!! If there are 280 million people in the US, how many people are eating 1 or more chicken's per week? Lets assume its an average of 0.5 per person per week (conservative estimate), then this means ~140 million chickens slaughtered per week (at six weeks of age).

Exactly how are 140 million RFID tags going to be produced per week? And who will track all that information?

Never mind the goats, cows, pigs and other livestock.

I believe this is a sinister program to control the food supply. They want to drive out independent producers. They want us all dependent on the big industry, so they can tyrannize us. Imagine how compliant we'll be if they threaten to withold out food?

I think it should be resisted on EVERY LEVEL!!

[Mr.Green93]

4. And who will track all that information?

Maybe there will be new jobs and careers opening up. : )

[chrisbur]

5. I have five layer hens that are still laying well ...

at 1 year. I expect them to live 2 or 3 years though they won't lay much the last year. I guess you're talking about "factory" fryer chickens but still.. at 6 weeks mine are pretty small. Is this true?

We have dairy goats too. They're already registered with the ADGA. This will just be more paperwork for us small fries. What a pain in my ass.

[tocqueville]

3. are mad chimps being tagged too ?