Why Traceability Matters in the Cattle Industry: Safeguarding Herds, Markets, and the Future
- darren wong
- Jul 30
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 28
In today’s fast-evolving food system, traceability in the cattle industry is no longer optional it’s essential. Whether you're a rancher, processor, or retailer, the ability to track animals from birth to beef offers more than compliance. It’s a powerful tool for protecting your business, adding value, and keeping markets open especially when the unexpected happens.
Disease Outbreaks: Traceability is Your First Line of Defense
When animal disease strikes like Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), Bovine Tuberculosis, or BSE (Mad Cow Disease), speed and accuracy are critical. Traceability helps track the movement of potentially infected animals quickly, enabling rapid containment and minimizing economic fallout.
Stat: According to a USDA economic assessment, rapid traceability can reduce the economic impact of a disease outbreak by up to 90%.
Without it, entire regions may face restrictions, even when only one operation is affected. But with source and movement data, authorities can target interventions and prevent unnecessary herd losses or trade shutdowns.
Risk Management: A Plan for What You Can’t Control
Cattle producers already face weather, feed costs, and market volatility. Disease outbreaks or regulatory changes only add to the uncertainty. Traceability is a risk management tool that can protect your operation when things go sideways.
If your animals are mistakenly linked to a disease incident or food safety concern, being able to prove your source, handling, and movement records could make the difference between staying in business and being shut down.
Think of traceability as a proactive insurance policy, it won't prevent bad luck, but it can limit your exposure and help you bounce back faster.
Market Access: Keeping Domestic and Export Channels Open
International markets like Japan, South Korea, and the European Union require traceability as part of their import protocols for beef. If the U.S. fails to meet those standards during a disease outbreak, billions in export revenue are at risk.
Stat: In 2023, the U.S. exported over $10 billion in beef products nearly 15% of total production. Source: USDA ERS
Domestically, retailers and food service companies increasingly demand traceability for ESG compliance, sourcing verification, and brand reputation.
Case Study: After the 2003 BSE outbreak shut down U.S. beef exports, IMI Global developed the first USDA-approved verification programs to meet Japan’s import requirements. Their third-party system allowed packers to source verified cattle without auditing each ranch, revolutionizing traceability and value-added marketing in the beef industry.
Value-Added Programs: Traceability Unlocks Premiums
Traceability isn’t just about protection it’s a profit opportunity. Programs like CARE Certified, Verified Natural Beef, NHTC (Non-Hormone Treated Cattle), and Source and Age all require traceability as a baseline. Participation in these programs allows producers to capture premiums and access differentiated markets.
And with consumers demanding transparency, these programs also support stronger storytelling and brand building.
Pro Tip: All of these programs—including age and source verification, CARE Certified, NHTC, and Secure Beef Supply planning—can be managed through the WFCF Beef Passport traceability system, which simplifies the entire process in one secure, streamlined platform.
Consumer Confidence: Trust Built on Transparency
Today’s shoppers want to know where their food comes from, how it was raised, and who raised it. Verified traceability gives producers a platform to meet that demand and stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Whether you're a direct-to-consumer beef brand, a processor serving high-end retailers, or a cow-calf producer selling through programs, traceability is the story behind the steak.
Case Study: After implementing CARE Certified and source verification, Ribbonwire Ranch increased their market visibility and consumer trust in premium retail partnership with Wegmans Food Markets. Watch Ribbonwire Ranch’s story to learn more about their operation.
The Ribbonwire Ranch crew gathered around a water well, letting their horses drink after moving cattle on horseback to fresh pasture. Be Prepared: Build a Secure Beef Supply (SBS) Plan for Your Operation
Even with a strong traceability system, a disease outbreak like Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) could halt cattle movement nationwide. That’s where a Secure Beef Supply (SBS) Plan comes in.
The Secure Beef Supply Plan, developed by the USDA, state animal health officials, and industry experts, is designed to help producers maintain business continuity during a highly contagious animal disease outbreak without compromising disease control efforts.
Why It Matters:
Without a pre-approved movement plan, your animals may be stuck even if they’re healthy.
SBS Plans give officials confidence that your operation can move animals safely and securely during an outbreak.
It gives you a seat at the table when decisions are made about permitted movement, helping you avoid unnecessary financial loss.
Premises ID and official premise map
Enhanced biosecurity protocols
Cattle movement logs and traceability records
Employee training documentation
Emergency contact procedures
Suggested First Steps:
Get a Premises ID Number (PIN) from your state’s animal health authority.
Map your operation, including access points, equipment locations, and animal flow.
Implement daily movement logs and enhance biosecurity measures like designated loadout zones and visitor logs.
Train employees and document procedures for cleaning, disinfection, and animal handling.
Pro Tip: Your traceability program becomes the foundation for a compliant SBS Plan. Pairing both adds credibility and helps you qualify for permitted movement in the event of a shutdown.
Final Thoughts: Plan Now, Stay Open Later
Building an SBS Plan alongside your traceability system is like reinforcing your insurance with an emergency response manual. If a crisis comes, you won’t just be waiting - you’ll be ready.
Where Food Comes From offers support for operations looking to integrate traceability, certification, and risk preparedness. We're here to help you build a more resilient, future-ready operation.
Meet Our Experts
Kristina Bierschwale
Kristina Bierschwale is Vice President of Sales and Customer Development at Where Food Comes From. With over 20 years in the meat and food processing industries, she works with dairy, meat, and poultry customers across the supply chain to help them meet public and private verification standards. A Texas Hill Country native with B.S. and M.S. degrees in Animal Science from Texas A&M University, Kristina lives in Mason, TX, where she and her family operate a small cow-calf operation.
Melissa Davis
Melissa Davis is the Technical Services & Animal Welfare Program Manager at Where Food Comes From, Inc. She holds a Ph.D. in livestock behavior and welfare from Colorado State University and has dedicated her career to helping producers uphold the highest standards in animal care and sustainability. Drawing on her background in research and hands-on industry experience, Melissa works to create practical solutions that benefit animals, producers, and the agricultural community as a whole.