Multiple state cattlemen’s organizations from major beef producing regions have partnered together to form U.S. CattleTrace. The goal is to develop a national infrastructure for disease traceability and encourage private industry’s use of the system for individualized management practices.
The new initiative combines the efforts of CattleTrace, which consists of multiple partners, including KLA and others in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Oregon and Washington, as well as traceability pilot projects underway in Florida and Texas. Those projects are facilitated by the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association.
“With producers and industry stakeholders working together from across the country, the U.S. CattleTrace partnership will be a catalyst to build upon the CattleTrace foundation we established the past few years,” said CattleTrace Board Chairman Brandon Depenbusch of Great Bend.
In late August 2018, CattleTrace Inc. was formally established as a private, not-for-profit corporation to securely maintain and manage the data collected. Its board of directors is made up of representatives from the cow-calf, livestock market and cattle feeding sectors. The board voted this month to change the name to U.S. CattleTrace Inc. to formally establish the multi-state initiative. For more information on how to get involved, go to www.UScattletrace.org.