Files
Abstract
An
animal
traceability
system
can
help
control
disease,
improve
food
safety,
improve
production
practices
and
provide
enhanced
marketing
opportunities.
However,
attempts
to
establish
a
beef
traceability
system
in
the
U.S.
has
faced
resistance
from
many
beef
producers.
Some
of
the
reasons
for
resistance
were
cost,
lack
of
confidentiality,
and
lack
of
accuracy
of
the
system.
Moreover,
those
who
incurred
the
costs
would
not
necessarily
have
received
the
benefits
of
such
a
system.
This
study
evaluates
the
costs
of
a
whole
chain
traceability
system
and
compares
them
to
the
benefits
of
a
traceability
system
in
improving
feed
efficiency
of
cattle.
We
determine
the
cost
saving
from
purchasing
a
higher
proportion
of
high-‐efficiency
cattle
using
the
information
available
in
the
whole
chain
traceability
system.
We
also
determine
the
benefits
that
should
be
shared
among
cow/calf,
stocker
and
feedlot
operators
to
motivate
them
to
adopt
such
a
system.
Results
show
that
while
cow/calf
producers
would
bear
most
of
the
cost
of
a
traceability
system,
they
would
also
receive
the
least
benefits.
To
make
participation
in
a
traceability
system
profitable
for
cow-‐calf
producers,
the
results
indicate
that
$20
per
head
additional
income
should
be
transferred
to
the
cow/calf
and
stocker
producers.
This
additional
income
transfer
will
cover
the
costs
of
whole
chain
traceability
system
and
also
provide
additional
profit
that
will
motivate
the
cow/calf
and
stocker
producers
to
participate
in
such
a
system.
The
feedlot
also
gains
a
net
cost
saving
of
$19
per
head
after
transferring
the
additional
income
and
paying
its
own
traceability
cost.
Thus,
by
reducing
feeding
cost,
a
whole
chain
traceability
system
that
provides
information
about
the
feeding
efficiency
of
cattle
can
provide
additional
profit
to
the
cow/calf,
stocker
and
feedlot
operators
even
after
covering
the
costs
of
implementing
the
traceability
system.