Did you hear of the USDA plan to attach unique identification numbers to ALL livestock in the U.S., done ostensibly to keep track of disease vectors (as though rats, fleas, dust, and wild birds NEVER spread diseases between farms and ranches). Anyhow, it's being presented as a public/livestock health measure, but it sounds kind of redundant to me. Don't livestock birth records and records of sale and, in the case of cattle ranches, brandings mean anything anymore? Or am I missing something here?
The unique ID number will cost between 3 and 20 dollars per head (look for your steak prices to go up), and there's even a requirement--correct me if I'm wrong--for people to report stray livestock! I don't know about you, but if I see a stray cow, I may report it, or I may not. If I do, it'll be because the cow is blocking the road or some such. Up yours, USDA.
Furthermore, I wonder how many on-the-edge small farmers will be put out of business by this measure.
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>>>Did you hear of the USDA plan to attach unique identification numbers to ALL livestock in the U.S
Yes. I'm away from keyboard right now and just skimmed you.
That is a component of Healthy People 2010. It is under the Food Safety initiative.
See FR Keyword= tagging for the articles I've been posting on this.
(be back)