041102 USDA Hopes to Verify Cattle's Ages

Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture is studying ways for cattle producers to prove an animal's age through physical traits rather than through source verification and traceable records.

Japan and Taiwan have agreed to accept U.S. beef from livestock younger than 21 months. The countries stopped importing U.S. beef last December after a case of mad cow disease was discovered in the United States. Having a verifiable system is key for re- establishing trade.

The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service met with producers and meatpacking companies this week in Kansas City, Mo., to explain what to expect from trade talks between the United States and Japan.

"If the Japanese importers don't approve our standards or protocols, then it doesn't work," said Greg Ibach, assistant director of the Nebraska Agriculture Department.

After last December's discovery of mad cow disease, USDA officials announced that they would quickly implement a national animal identification program. The agency has since backed off that proposal.

With USDA approval, Nebraska has started its own voluntary identification plan that registers farms that own livestock. Ibach said about 100 producers have registered for the program.

Nebraska officials are not immediately moving toward a mandatory program, however.

"That's not something we're pushing for in Nebraska," Ibach said. "We will follow what USDA signals if they come to a time when they want to do something like that."

Rather than use certified identification records, the USDA is studying a group of cattle that researchers have documented since birth and is comparing physiology of the animals for key traits. The goal is to show that there are ways to properly verify an animal's age without definitive records.

"If USDA is successful in convincing the Japanese government of allowing us to use some measure of physiological maturity, then that changes the picture altogether," said Jeff Stolle, vice president of marketing for the Nebraska Cattlemen.

Stolle, who attended this week's meeting, said many unknown factors exist for producers and meatpackers regarding identification requirements.

"We're just beginning the phases of identifying what Japan will want for certification and proof," Stolle said.

Meatpackers interested in exporting to Japan would have to provide USDA with a quality management system that the agency would have to approve. Part of the plan would require explaining how the packer would verify age.

Producers want to know what they have to do to keep cattle eligible for export, but right now there are no firm answers, Stolle said.

"Those were the very same type of questions we were hoping to get some type of clarification on but weren't surprised that we didn't, because a lot of that still has yet to be worked out," Stolle said.

Last year, Japan imported $1.7 billion worth of U.S. beef, or about 10% of America's total production, according to the USDA.

Ibach said state officials intend to schedule a meeting with USDA officials in Washington, D.C., sometime in the next month to find out more about how to certify Nebraska livestock for export to Japan.

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