More Cattle Ranchers in Opposition to NAIS
Otero livestock group asks county to oppose ID system
The chairman of the Otero County Grazing Advisory Board is calling the National Animal Identification System "devastating to the livestock industry in the state."
Rancher Bobby Jones told Otero County commissioners Tuesday that grazing board members unanimously approved a resolution opposing NAIS in February. The measure identifies and tracks animals using a computer chip implanted under the animal's skin, a computer chip ear tag, and a retina scan.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared NAIS will be mandatory by 2009.
Jones asked commissioners to support the livestock organization's resolution. The document states the program violates the First, Fourth, Fifth, 10th and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
"We feel like the USDA does not have authority or jurisdiction to do this," Jones said.
He said he is not opposed to ranchers who want to voluntarily participate, but pointed out that cattle brands used in New Mexico "have sufficed for over a hundred years" as a means of identifying animals.
I am glad to see more and more cattle ranchers opposing this measure. We need to make noise about the NAIS system and get it stopped.
