Marketing Update Risk Management Through Traceability

by Chessie Mitchell, Assistant Director of Value-Added Programs

As the cattle market will soon be going through a new growth cycle, many cattlemen are seeking ways to mitigate risk for both their operation and their pocketbook. Disease traceability has become a hot topic of conversation over the past 10 years, as many producers are starting to realize the impacts of a disease outbreak in our country in light of the repercussions of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. With a disease outbreak in mind, the industry is working to educate producers on ways to handle risk management through a disease traceability lens.

We need to be clear on the risk of what would happen if a disease outbreak was to occur within our protein sector. Currently, a disease outbreak within the United States beef industry would virtually cease all trade, cattle movement and deplete market shares. With tight margins already existing in the beef industry, we can’t afford a widespread halt on domestic and international markets until containment measures are in place. Many industry stakeholders have been working with third-party and governmental agencies to find a voluntary animal identification and disease traceability system that would complement requests from ranchers and efficiently handle a disease outbreak.

One of the first steps producers can take to mitigate risk with disease traceability and add a layer of protection to their herds is to utilize RFID technology. Electronic identification allows ranchers to verify, through scanning records, if their cattle are involved in the disease outbreak. The Red Angus Association of America has long supported RFID technology for purposes such as record-keeping, marketing and the ever-growing concern in helping producers lessen the risk of their herd being shut down due to a lack of traceability.

Since the early 2010s, RAAA has been able to supply commercial customers enrolled in value-added programs with RFID technology. Red Angus producers who enroll can purchase Allflex USA or Datamars combination sets (EID + dangle tag) or EIDs-only in our Feeder Calf Certification Program or Allied Access program. Both 840 and stock EID options are available. However, staff strongly encourage enrollees to look towards the 840 EID option because this is an official source of animal identification through USDA that, with reliable movement records, can trace animals to their origin, thus adding a layer of insurance to their herd during a disease outbreak.

In 2021, RAAA opened the doors to identifying seedstock cattle through RFID technology. Producers can now utilize 840 EIDs as a means of identification in the registry – the same as a tattoo – but without actually tattooing the animal. Instead, the 840 EID is utilized in its place. Many Red Angus stakeholders are adopting this new advantage, as it allows them to embrace traceability standards in their herd while enhancing their record-keeping capabilities.

With an ever-growing demand for traceability within our industry, RAAA has found many ways to serve our stakeholders by involving management methods to mitigate the risk of a disease outbreak in our registry and value-added programs. For further information on RFID technology at RAAA, contact our value-added department at 940-477-4593 or tags@redangus.org. //