Disease Traceability: The Beef Industry’s Ultimate Risk Protection

by Macey Mueller for the Red Angus Magazine When a 2009 tuberculosis outbreak in northwestern Minnesota shut down Don Schiefelbein’s family farm – more than 200 miles away from the infected area – he learned firsthand how valuable a producer-led animal identification and disease traceability system could be to his operation and the entire beef industry.

“The government took an arbitrary response to shut down cattle movement across all of Minnesota, regardless of our distance from the outbreak, until we proved we didn’t have TB,” he said. “The ironic thing is that Canada and North Dakota are both just 25 miles from the outbreak area, but they were not impacted or required to shut down.”

Schiefelbein, who currently serves as president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, said all one has to do is reflect on what the nation has gone through during the pandemic to realize “there is no greater risk of shutting down the beef industry than a foreign animal disease coming into the country.”

“For producers across the land, it should be a huge wake-up call to see that when the government gets involved without a plan, their drastic actions could potentially cripple an industry,” he said.

Industry officials suggest that without a U.S. animal identification and disease traceability system in place, a foreign animal disease outbreak would instantly cease foreign trade, which adds about a $400 value per animal, and possibly shut down the domestic market within a few days if the disease was widespread.

“There is currently no hardline plan to safeguard producers,” Schiefelbein said. “We have no systematic way to isolate cattle moving in and out of an infected area and no means to say which producers are safe to continue doing business.”

The concept of animal identification and traceability is not new. In fact, a 2013 USDA ruling requires several classes of cattle to be officially identified and accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection to move across state lines. However, concerns about technology, privacy and cost have challenged the development of a comprehensive cattle identification and disease traceability system for years.

Schiefelbein Grund Kniebel

“Traceability has been all over the place since it was initially introduced,” Schiefelbein said. “The government wanted it to do so much – it wasn’t just traceability but a way to manage data on an animal – and it got so convoluted and so complicated that all of the sudden the wheels fell off.

“Then the government said the evil ‘mandate’ word and all air went out of the issue.”

But Schiefelbein said he has seen a recent shift in producer mindsets – due in part to the pandemic – and thinks the industry is ready to take a producer-led, voluntary approach to traceability.

“I think COVID opened up a lot of eyes in terms of not wanting to be at the government’s mercy in managing a disease outbreak,” he said.

Based on NCBA research, Schiefelbein said producers are interested in a traceability program that offers three things: a strict focus on foreign animal disease outbreaks (not used to collect other pieces of data), a voluntary approach (not mandated) and a database controlled by a third party (not the government).

NCBA president-elect Todd Wilkinson is currently leading a traceability task force involving producers, sale barns,

Based on NCBA research, producers are interested in a traceability program that offers three things: 1) a strict focus on foreign animal disease outbreaks (not used to collect other pieces of data), 2) a voluntary approach (not mandated) and 3) a database controlled by a third party (not the government).

feed yards and processors from across the United States to develop a plan that meets these demands while quickly and effectively tracking animal movement and potentially preventing an industry-wide shut down in the case of a disease outbreak.

“Through our grassroots process at NCBA, we want to propose a system that moves traceability forward without alienating producers but also makes sense for every spot along the supply chain,” Schiefelbein said. “If you choose to participate in traceability – and we want to make it voluntary – then it’s basically like purchasing insurance for foreign animal disease risk.”

Schiefelbein said a voluntary animal disease traceability program would require any animal entering or leaving a participating operation to have an electronic identification tag so a third party could quickly identify and isolate cattle located in or originating from a foreign animal disease outbreak area.

“If somebody can prove through the traceability network that they are not impacted by the disease outbreak, then they are free to continue business as usual and won’t be arbitrarily shut down,” he said.

Without a sound animal disease traceability system, Schiefelbein said the U.S. beef industry is especially vulnerable to activists who want to end animal agriculture and could potentially use a foreign animal disease and the risk of human health concerns to put the industry out of business.

“If we’re trying to work with an administration that doesn’t understand the cattle business, they could put an entire industry in harm’s way in the name of trying to protect human health,” he said. “And when you use that as your charge, it’s hard to stop.”

A few years ago, that vulnerability to government reaction, rather than a producer-driven response, led a group of industry organizations to develop U.S. CattleTrace, a national infrastructure for end-to-end cattle disease traceability. The system utilizes radio frequency identification technologies for speed-of-commerce contact tracing in the case of a foreign animal disease outbreak.

Callahan Grund, U.S CattleTrace executive director, said the goal is to proactively build a voluntary traceability system that meets producer demands and allows state and federal animal health officials to respond quickly and efficiently during a foreign animal disease outbreak. Electronic Identification buttons like in this animal’s right ear are currently available for use in cattle enrolled in the Red Angus Feeder Calf Certification or Allied Access programs to help producers meet the demand from cattle feeders and packers that value animal traceability.

“We are working to build a contact tracing system for animal disease traceability and a search mechanism for animal health officials, and we’re willing to work with other industry stakeholders to make that a reality,” he said.

While the logistics involved in the vast U.S. cattle system have created challenges, Grund said producer concerns about privacy and operational changes have ultimately limited traceability’s adoption rate.

“Everybody likes to do things a certain way on their operation, and sometimes change can be hard when there’s not a dollar value associated for creating extra steps,” he said.

“The dollar tends to drive action in our industry, so as more producers understand the potential economic impact of a disease outbreak and begin to see traceability as a protection tool, the more buy-in we expect.

“At the end of the day, there are other protein sources out there that consumers can turn to other than beef, so when we think about traceability and the opportunity to quickly respond to these events and continue business operations, I think it becomes an important source of protection within our supply chain.”

Kansas rancher Mary Ann Kniebel said she understands many of her fellow producers’ concerns about the added labor and expense associated with traceability, but as evidenced in other protein industries, the ramifications of a foreign animal disease outbreak can be crippling.

“I know a lot of people would like to not ever have to deal with traceability, but that’s unrealistic,” she said. “It’s not ‘if’ something happens, it’s ‘when’ something happens, and we have to be ready.

“We’ve all seen what our sister proteins have gone through with high path avian influenza in chickens and all of the horrible diseases in hogs. At some point, it’s going to be our turn.” Kniebel, who chairs the NCBA Cattle Health and Well Being Committee, echoed Schiefelbein’s sentiments on the importance of regionalization, or being able to prove that a disease is contained to a specific area or areas so the rest of the industry can keep moving.

“In the case of a disease outbreak, we don’t want to completely shut down every segment across the country, but we can’t have regionalization if we don’t have traceability,” she said. “Likewise, there are certain countries like Canada and Mexico that we have agreements with to recognize regionalization, but if we don’t have a system in place to prove it, then we cannot trade with them.”

Kniebel admitted she doesn’t always like change but realizes that sacrifices have to be made to protect her way of life. She recalled a time when major packing plants began requiring truck drivers to be Beef Quality Assurance Transportation certified before delivering cattle to their facilities and how that extra step built accountability with consumers.

“Just like haulers have to prove their humane handling skills, we as producers are going to have to prove our cattle are not infected when a disease outbreak occurs,” she said. “The lack of an animal traceability system is a glaring hole in our industry, but we have an opportunity to create one that fits our needs and boosts our credibility with consumers.” //

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by Mitchell VanderWal, JRA Board Member The leaves are falling, and the calves are bawling. For many in the cattle industry, fall weaning season brings a lot of excitement. The sound of geese overhead and calves in the lot signify the changing of the seasons and the turning of a new leaf. In a similar fashion, Red Angus juniors across the country have turned a leaf and entered a new school year. Whether they find themselves moving across the hall into a different classroom or venturing away from home to enter their first year of college, every school year brings some form of change. It may sound intimidating, but change comes with new growth, and growth allows people to find a path that suits them best. In no time at all, these young people will look back and wonder where their school years went. However, it’s important to treasure these periods of growth and change, as they impact the future, regardless of age or stage in life. Gandhi once said, “The future depends on what happens in the present.” In the cattle industry, this quote is applicable in many ways. Whether discussing a cattle operation or envisioning what lies ahead in the markets, the future can largely depend on what happens now. Every producer in this industry knows that to succeed, tireless efforts must be made. Regardless of if a producer grows corn to feed livestock or livestock to feed people, the operation must develop and grow to the capacity of fulfilling the world’s demand for food. No matter the good or service produced, investing in the success of the operation or association ensures that the future will be in good hands. In the Red Angus breed, investing in the future leaders of the agriculture industry sits at the top of the docket. Through programs of the JRA, junior directors can aid in the growth and development of their fellow peers. By learning about this breed and developing their knowledge and resources, juniors enter the world prepared and ready for whatever journey they seek. Whether they’re talking to breed and industry mentors or engaging in conversation with someone who has little industry experience, Red Angus juniors can serve the agriculture industry in ways that will truly prepare them for the future, no matter their desired career path. A few months ago, the Junior Red Angus board of directors welcomed juniors from across the country to the annual JRA Round-Up held in Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska. Old friends were reunited and new friends were made. It is through events such as these that unexpected friendships are realized, which can often become the greatest friendships of all. These are the friends who find a spark through a simple conversation, and it quickly fans into a flame that cannot go unnoticed by others. At this year’s Round-Up, a young man sporting a big smile and an unforgettable mullet made his mark on the Red Angus breed by connecting with juniors in the simplest way possible. A marketer of the future, this cattle enthusiast shared pens, stickers, and T-shirts with “Tag Thompson Cattle Co.” plastered across the front. Tag Thompson, a young individual who entered Round-Up unsure of the people around him and the adventure

Engage with JRA!

Emma Ahrendsen, Iowa • jraemma@gmail.com Peri Andras, Illinois • jraperi17@gmail.com Leah Evans, Iowa • jraleah1@gmail.com Natalie Evans, Illinois • jranatalie@gmail.com Cameron Ison, Kentucky • jracameron1@gmail.com Mitchell VanderWal, South Dakota • jramitchell1@gmail.com

Kim Heller, Junior Program Coordinator • juniors@redangus.org

Save the Dates:

November 18-20 – Young Stockman Program, Iowa February 15 – College Scholarship Applications Due May 1 – JRA Board of Director Applications Due July 11-16 – Junior Red Angus Round-Up, Florida 2022-2023 JRA Board of Directors Website: redangus.org/jra Facebook: juniorredangus Instagram: juniorredangus Snapchat: juniorredangus

Common Hashtags: #jra #redangus

ahead of him, made his mark without even knowing it.

Tag transitioned into a new opportunity, did not back down, and learned extraordinary things through it.

The 2022 Young Gun Award was unanimously bestowed upon Tag, as it was more than evident that he had grown in his Red Angus knowledge, accepted a new change and turned his leaf to a bright future during that week.

From freshly weaned calves to students starting a new school year, change is inevitable. Whether adaptation to change is fast or slow, one important theme rings true: If things do change, learn from it, and then grow with it.

Never forget about the challenges of the past, and never fear the challenges of the future. All people of the industry, old or young, turn that leaf and find out what lies underneath. // by Tag Thompson, JRA member I attended the 2022 JRA RoundUp and it was awesome! But let’s back up a minute – I was hesitant to go for three reasons: 1) I didn’t know ANYONE, except

Veronica, who invited me; 2) I’d be gone a week, right before my county fair, and 3) I only have one Red Angus heifer, and I wasn’t sure that qualified me to hang out with the Red Angus kids! Tag Tompson and past JRA Director Tiffany Watkins

After much debate, I sent in my registration and hoped for the best. Not knowing what to expect, I was a bundle of excited nerves!

We traveled so many miles and made lots of friends and memories. I learned so much at all the stops, from feedlots to research and farmyards, but the most inspirational stop was Rabou Farms. It encouraged me that you can always keep going, even through hardships.

I would have never even heard of this trip or had the opportunity to go, had I not been awarded a NILE Merit Heifer and been paired with Christensen Red Angus of Park City, Montana. Veronica encouraged me to attend and I am so glad! I encourage everyone that is eligible to attend the JRA Round-Up in 2023! I hope to see you all there! //

by Nate Smith, General Manager, Top Dollar Angus, Inc. When we contemplate the beef industry, many of us think of the two or three segments that matter most to our bottom line. Those segments are likely the production side, feeding sector and, to a lesser degree, the processing phase.

These portions of the supply chain directly influence how our markets are established, and ultimately, how much we get paid for the cattle we produce, as driven by the ebb and flow of supply and demand. While we are well-versed in these sectors, as producers, we should also look at a few variables that often go unnoticed.

For more than a century, there has been a general disconnect between those that raise the beef and those who process and sell it. Much of this separation was created by the fact that those located in urban areas have better access to consumers and the ability to use technology, whereas rural locations are favorable for raising cattle, but less suited for selling large volumes of beef.

Ever since the days of cattle drives from Texas to Kansas, we placed our beef processing plants in areas of higher population. The need for access to sizable human populations was threefold: a labor force, plentiful consumers and, just as importantly, technology. Population is easy to understand from a labor and consumer perspective, but technology can be hard to wrap our heads around. Basic packing infrastructure demands technology from the moment cattle are harvested to when the beef hits the retail shelf to be sold. In the past, technology was access to a railroad hub, that without civilian population, would not be available due to cost. Refrigeration, first available for commercial use in the mid-1910s, was based primarily out of the Detroit, Michigan, area. This is the main reason we first saw packing plants pop up in Chicago and Minneapolis. They had access to people and new technology.

How does this tie into today’s retail market? Let’s take a look. Today the implementation of technology in processing plants is key to supporting our fragmented and highly varied consumer markets. During my time in the lamb processing industry, I learned that fulfilling food service industry demands was a daunting task for packers. To help meet this challenge, high-tech machines are used to safely package food while increasing efficiency at the same time.

Today, we see computerized logistics used to schedule shipments, pull specific boxed products off high shelves in a warehouse, and keep refrigerated trucks running, all while carefully orchestrating the balancing act between too much and not enough boxed product. There is also an ever-increasing use of technology in food safety. To say the least, technology is a pillar of how beef remains the most sought-after protein source in the business. On the live-animal production side, we can continue to leverage new technologies. Genetic science and data management has improved our product. Ease of data collection, followed by the use of that data for decision-making, requires technology. However, looking at the packing and retail segments, we have barely scratched the surface to leverage technology. Continued engagement of new ideas has the potential for producers to increase their reputation and the price of their cattle, while in turn, creating a safe and healthy, highly demanded product.

As always, I would enjoy the chance to chat about these technologies with producers of any size and location. Please feel free to reach out to me. //

Top Dollar Angus Team

www.topdollarangus.com

Nate Smith, General Manager (620) 546-4839 nate@topdollarangus.com

Kaytlin Hokanson • (307) 461-7687 kaytlin@topdollarangus.com

Andy Albrecht • (402) 922-1000 andy@topdollarangus.com

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