The USDA has received mixed feedback from cattle and dairy groups on their proposed mandatory radio frequency identification, or RFID tags, for cattle and bison crossing state lines.
The proposed rule would create a national identification program and interstate traceability system to protect against animal disease outbreaks using RFID tags.
The proposed rule would require all female dairy cows and males born after March 11, 2013 to have RFID tags when crossing state lines. The National Milk Producers Federation says a national animal identification system can provide immediate access to relevant information in an animal disease or food safety crisis, while protecting farmers’ privacy. NMPF joined several dairy groups and breed associations to form IDairy which supports mandatory id to help in disease traceability.
