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| Professor Schroeder: "We are currently working on the benefit cost study of Animal ID for the USDA." |
Officials from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have given a grant of almost $500,000 to researchers at Kansas State University (K-State) to research the benefits and costs of electronic animal identification systems.
Professor Ted Schroeder, a K-State professor of agricultural economics, says that the widespread implementation of animal ID systems could reduce the burden shouldered by producers and taxpayers if there is a loss of market access for food products.
The USDA has established a voluntary National Animal Identification System (NAIS), with over 400,000 registered cattle production premises that have received over 1.6 million approved animal identification devices. However, Professor Schroeder believes that the level of participation has been low because the system is voluntary.
Although the US has avoided foot and mouth disease, bovine spongiform encephalopathy has been detected in US cattle. In one of three cases, the infected cow could not be traced. However, an animal ID system would have shown officials where it had been and could have led to more thorough surveillance and testing of other potentially exposed animals, said Professor Schroeder.
Tagged and traced: Over 400,000 registered cattle production premises have received over 1.6 million approved animal identification devices under USDA's voluntary scheme
"If animal trace backs were 90% successful within 24 hours, total producer and consumer welfare losses would be expected to be nearly 40% less than with current animal identification methods," he said. 
Photo: Michael Ring
Previous work by Dr Schroeder and other agricultural economists has predicted that an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) could cost almost $1bn in the state of Kansas alone.
R-CALF USA, which represents the US cattle industry, has been perhaps the most vocal opponent of making NAIS mandatory. The organization's main concern is the cost of the system for producers.
"There has been no initial estimate of what the NAIS would cost the US cattle industry, but these costs are likely to be substantial," R-CALF USA says. "Producers should not bear the brunt of the costs of an animal trace-back system that is intended for the public benefit."
Professor Schroeder told Animal Pharm: "We are currently working on the benefit cost study of Animal ID for the USDA. Results should be available in about nine months."
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