The Ministry of Agriculture has begun the process of implementing a National Livestock Identification and Movement Control Programme, through the launching of its Livestock Tagging Programme.
The Livestock Tagging Programme, launched at Belmont Estate in St. Patrick on Sept. 24, 2020, encourages proper record keeping and traceability within the sector, while aiding the Ministry in retrieving production data and strengthening its efforts towards its food and nutrition security.
It will take on a colour-coded effect, specific to each parish, promoting an identification system that will serve as a deterrent to animal theft and provide a system for disease control in the sector.
Chief Veterinary and Livestock Officer in the Ministry, Dr. Kimmond Cummings, said the programme will also involve a short interview with the farmer, regarding the animals to be tagged, so that information can be stored. This interview should capture date of birth, treatment, vaccination, health history, breed, sex and colour, among other things, and will complement the farm to table/fork concept.
This Livestock Tagging System will also provide a solution to the problem of ownership, often faced in the sector, due to similarities among animals.
“It is hard to tell someone who has one kid or goat that looks like yours, “this belongs to me”, even if you have a gut feeling. The ultimate goal is to have every animal tagged to combat this phenomenon,” said Dr. Cummings.
The system will also be effective in monitoring each individual animal’s route from its birthplace to its death at the abattoir or slaughter facility. In this regard, the Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Yolande Bain Horsford, encourages continuity and follow-up sessions under the programme.
She said, “We cannot just tag animals and go. There needs to be a robust monitoring and evaluation system that buttresses a detailed database that is regularly updated. Additionally, there must be a strong coordination among the stakeholders of the livestock sector if this tagging programme and the broader identification and movement control system is to function effectively.”
The Agriculture Minister also noted the importance of traceability.
“Traceability is the foundation of any future system for food safety and epidemiological surveillance for animal diseases. There is a growing need for identification of livestock and livestock products, from the point of origin to the point of consumption,” she said.
The programme will begin in the parish of St. Andrew and will continue in a counterclockwise direction. The Ministry is urging all farmers to take advantage of the initiative, as it does not just help the Ministry to capture data, but it increases consumers’ confidence and demand.
Ministry of Agriculture…ensuring food and nutrition security for all
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