Southeastern Livestock Network, LLC
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How the Southeastern Livestock Network Formed
With the initial goal of protecting producer interests in the National Animal Identification System, the Southeastern Livestock Network, LLC was organized in June by 10 cattlemen's associations. Chairman Jim Anderson, a veterinarian and cow/calf producer from Mississippi, and Vice Chairman Marcus Harward, an auction market operator and cow/calf producer from North Carolina, will lead the 10-state group representing Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
Our mission is simple,Anderson says. As USDA devises the system for providing rapid traceability of all animals in the event of catastrophic disease, we will be very active in the process and offer solutions we believe will minimize the burden on producers. We're convinced that the best approach is a joint effort between industry and government.
The creation of the SLN was the result of cattle industry leaders in the 10 states recognizing the need to address the uniqueness of the Southeastern cattle industry in the NAIS, which has been in development for nearly two years. Although the region is primarily made up of small herds, the 10 member states of the SLN represent 25 percent of the nations cattle producers and 20 percent of the cowherd.
These small farms are dependent on the auction market system to maximize their marketing efforts. A top priority for the SLN will be to assure that the NAIS is implemented in a manner that will protect the current marketing system and not disrupt the flow of cattle through auction markets. The SLN will seek funding to assist markets in putting in the infrastructure that will enable them to meet the requirements of the NAIS.
The SLN is working to create a collaborative effort of all parties that will be impacted by the NAIS, including producers, markets and marketers, educators, farm bureaus, and state governments to protect producer interests while meeting the needs of the NAIS. The SLN will work closely with state animal health officials in each state to meet their responsibilities in the NAIS.
The SLN has already coordinated a regional planning process with state animal health officials and assisted them in applying for USDA cooperative agreement funds to begin the premise registration process. These animal health officials have asked the SLN to operate a demonstrational project working in all 10 states over the coming year. The SLN was granted almost $100,000 to track slaughter cows out of markets around the region to the Shapiro Packing in Augusta, GA. This funding will be utilized to compensate producers and markets for tagging animals and to coordinate educational programs at the markets.
In addition to playing an active role in the NAIS, the SLN offers producers information management services. The centerpiece of the data services is an internet database, which provides source verification and market information services as well as cow/calf records management that range from birth to weaning to carcass data. This database allows producers to compare their production numbers to the averages and totals for the rest of the cattle in the database.
We are concerned about how the NAIS might impact livestock producers in the Southeast,Anderson concludes,and we are also excited about the potential impact we can have working as a cohesive group on this very important issue and others as they arise.
To Learn More About SLN Contact:
Becky Bennett, Director Kentucky Beef Network, bbennett@kycattle.org