05/19/05 Livestock producers talk ID

05/19/05 Livestock producers talk ID

Washington Ag May 19, 2005 About 100 people attended a livestock identification symposium in Boise, Idaho earlier this week put on by the Northwest Pilot Project. One of those attending was Neil Kayser, a Washington cattle producer who represents the state on the board of the Pilot Project, which is looking at various methods to accomplish the goals of the USDA's planned National Animal Identification System. The USDA wants to be able to trace animals within 48 hours in the event of a disease outbreak and recently said it would like a mandatory system fully operable in 2009. Kayser thinks that timeline is doable. Kayser: "I really think so. I think it might happen before that. Probably why, it will be a market driven scenario to get it to that point. Hopefully we will get some funding for another year to continue this thing on. But I think within 2007 this pilot program ought to be able to say these things will work in the Northwest, these things won't work, and let's proceed that way." The Pilot Project is looking at everything from branding to retinal scanning to radio frequency ear tags to see what would work or not work here in the West. Governor Christine Gregoire is scheduled to visit two Whatcom County dairy farms today and will see a demonstration of an anaerobic digester which uses dairy waste to produce electricity. I'm Bob Hoff.
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