National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Todd Wilkinson has made disease traceability his platform. USDA recent proposed rulemaking on electronic identification was expected. The ruling would require electronic identification on breeding livestock over 18 months of age and would replace the current metal Bangs tag. Wilkinson is especially concerned about disease traceability for foot and mouth disease. “We as an industry are facing a real challenge. The one that’s spreading all across the globe is hoof and mouth disease. If it gets in, there’s an immediate 72-hour rule where you can’t move cattle for a few days and could completely stop production.”
