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Cattle disease traceability discussion is gaining traction

The discussion about disease traceability is gaining traction in the cattle industry.

Cattle groups across the U.S. are watching the progress of the Kansas cattle ID pilot project called CattleTrace. Brandon Depenbusch with Innovative Livestock Services is one of the leaders of the Kansas effort. He says one of the questions cattlemen ask is, “what’s the value to me?”

“The value to me is our industry, our livelihood, our legacy, our facility, our operation. Right?,” Depenbusch says. “Without such a system and if we had a major disease outbreak, that’s all at risk. And I think, to me, that’s value enough for me as a producer and as a feedyard operator.”

Depenbusch says attitudes about having a national traceability program are changing. He hopes the Kansas program will provide the foundation for establishment of a national, voluntary, traceability program.

We spoke with Depenbusch at the recent annual meeting of Nebraska Cattlemen in Kearney.

AUDIO: Brandon Depenbusch

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