Who Will Benefit from the Implementation of Animal ID?
Results from a survey of the leaders of state cattlemens organizations indicate different perceptions exist about who will benefit from the implementation of an animal ID system and why they are expected to benefit. While over 90 percent of state cattle producer association respondents indicated support for a national cattle ID program, only 41 percent indicated they supported the USAIP when the survey was administered (January 2004). This may help to explain why the USAIP has continued to evolve as producer groups have applied political pressure to add more flexibility to the national animal ID plan. The desire for flexibility in implementing traceability systems, such as animal ID, has been a constant theme with U.S. agribusiness firms when discussing issues relating to traceability. Farm Foundation reports U.S. agribusiness firms would prefer market solutions rather than government regulation and mandates when traceability systems are implemented, except in the case of life-threaten
