Not necessarily to do with slaughter..
Mar. 19th, 2006 09:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sitaangelBut it's something that has gotten quite a few people in an uproar.
Horse owner cries foul over registry
By DAVE LIEBER
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Sara Legvold won't say how many horses she keeps on her 4-acre ranchette.
"I don't want to tell you," she says when I ask. "I don't think it's anybody's business."
The president of the Keller Horse Owners Association says she worries that the prying eyes of big government will be spying on her animals. A week ago, she sent a warning e-mail to that effect to 90 members in her group.
Borrowing language from a Web site, she warned that a proposed animal registration program under consideration by the state and federal governments would require livestock owners to register their ranch or farm addresses as the first step in a new animal identification program.
Eventually, the government ID program could require that each horse, cow, steer, bull, pig, sheep, goat, turkey, chicken and other domestic and exotic livestock be individually registered and tagged with a radio frequency identifier that could be used to track the animal's movements.
"The government wants to know who you are and what you own," her e-mail stated. "That's just the first step into the invasion of your privacy."
It continued, "Ask yourselves: Whose business is it where you take your horse when you pull out of your driveway? Whose business is it if you own a laying hen?"
In an interview, she says, "This has caught everybody by surprise. They kept it real low under the radar."
A new state law passed last year lets the Texas Animal Health Commission create an animal registration program. It's part of a federal mandate to set up an animal tracking system that, government officials say, could be used to prevent the spread of diseases.
One horse association director tells me that he believes that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's fear that terrorists could infect the nation's food supply also contributes to the National Animal Identification System's urgency.
Under state law, violators who refuse to register their premises could face fines of up to $1,000 a day.
Legvold is correct about the lack of public attention focused on these new programs. Like many community activists, she has turned to the Internet -- specifically a Web site, www.nonais.org -- to spread the word about what is happening to her friends and contacts. Reaction has been as swift as an angry bull throwing a cowboy.
A public hearing about the proposals in Austin last month didn't go well for state officials. As the Austin American-Statesman described audience reaction to the plan: "They yelled, they cursed, they cried."
Yet not everyone is unhappy. Owners of 8,600 premises in Texas where livestock is maintained have already voluntarily registered with the state.
Among the early registrants are large operators in the cattle industry, where leaders say they favor the program because it will bring stability and safety to their industry.
"I don't think anyone needs to read too much into this or overreact at this point," says Matt Brockman, executive vice president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, based in Fort Worth. "We have to bear in mind that there are some devastating animal diseases around the globe that we have to be prepared for."
But not just large livestock operations are expected to register premises where animals are kept.
"If you have one horse, that's a premise," Texas Animal Health Commission spokeswoman Carla Everett says. "We ask for a physical address. We ask for a list of species on that property. We don't care how many acres you own, and we don't ask how many animals a person owns."
The Texas Animal Health Commission, which had hoped to begin charging Texans a $10 annual fee this summer to register their premises, has postponed making the voluntary program mandatory. A March meeting was canceled and nothing about the proposal is on the agenda for the commission's May meeting.
But the ear tag program, started in Texas with a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has begun as a test program with cattle and horses, Everett says.
Legvold wants no part of it, fearing it could become permanent: "My experience in dealing with these so-called programs that are voluntary pilot programs is that the pilot comes in for a landing and never takes off again."
As mad cow disease, bird flu and other diseases pose greater threats, Everett says governments must do what they can to track animal movements to prevent epidemics.
Barbara McKnight, president of the Texas Equestrian Trail Riders Association, says her organization is reserving judgment.
"I'm not sure how you can track horses," she says. "If I have to register every movement of a horse, that would cause a whole lot of headaches."
Other leaders in the horse industry say they do not understand why horses must be treated like cattle.
David Hooper, executive director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association, says he believes that the new state fees, if enacted, would be an added tax on livestock owners to generate revenue for the state budget.
His organization is against the ID program because the movement of thoroughbreds is already heavily regulated. Disease outbreaks are handled through quarantines, he says.
Everett says horses can spread diseases such as rabies, salmonella, ringworm and foot-and-mouth disease.
Eventually, state officials say, the state system will become part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's national ID program, which is still in the formative stages.
Congress is expected to vote on details of the plan, perhaps as soon as this summer.
Under the national plan, all premises where livestock are handled -- ranches, farms, feedlots, livestock markets, slaughter establishments, rendering plants, veterinary clinics, livestock shows, ports of entry, fair or exhibition sites, quarantine facilities and laboratories -- would be registered.
The second phase of the plan would involve recording and reporting animals that are moved, sold, commingled or slaughtered.
Hooper, of the Thoroughbred Association, says he agrees with Legvold that state officials did not make an all-out effort to get the word out. But Everett, of the animal health commission, says presentations were made across the state.
Even after the state program is finalized, information gathered by the government will not be shared with everyone.
The state law that created the program is not lengthy, but one of the lengthiest portions details how information collected by the state will be exempt from public disclosure through open records.
IN THE KNOW
If you have questions or comments about premises or animal registration or need assistance, contact the Texas Animal and Health Commission Premises & Animal Identification Help Desk at (800) 550-8242, ext. 733. Or send an e-mail to TXPRS@tahc.state.tx.us.
Horse owner cries foul over registry
By DAVE LIEBER
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Sara Legvold won't say how many horses she keeps on her 4-acre ranchette.
"I don't want to tell you," she says when I ask. "I don't think it's anybody's business."
The president of the Keller Horse Owners Association says she worries that the prying eyes of big government will be spying on her animals. A week ago, she sent a warning e-mail to that effect to 90 members in her group.
Borrowing language from a Web site, she warned that a proposed animal registration program under consideration by the state and federal governments would require livestock owners to register their ranch or farm addresses as the first step in a new animal identification program.
Eventually, the government ID program could require that each horse, cow, steer, bull, pig, sheep, goat, turkey, chicken and other domestic and exotic livestock be individually registered and tagged with a radio frequency identifier that could be used to track the animal's movements.
"The government wants to know who you are and what you own," her e-mail stated. "That's just the first step into the invasion of your privacy."
It continued, "Ask yourselves: Whose business is it where you take your horse when you pull out of your driveway? Whose business is it if you own a laying hen?"
In an interview, she says, "This has caught everybody by surprise. They kept it real low under the radar."
A new state law passed last year lets the Texas Animal Health Commission create an animal registration program. It's part of a federal mandate to set up an animal tracking system that, government officials say, could be used to prevent the spread of diseases.
One horse association director tells me that he believes that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's fear that terrorists could infect the nation's food supply also contributes to the National Animal Identification System's urgency.
Under state law, violators who refuse to register their premises could face fines of up to $1,000 a day.
Legvold is correct about the lack of public attention focused on these new programs. Like many community activists, she has turned to the Internet -- specifically a Web site, www.nonais.org -- to spread the word about what is happening to her friends and contacts. Reaction has been as swift as an angry bull throwing a cowboy.
A public hearing about the proposals in Austin last month didn't go well for state officials. As the Austin American-Statesman described audience reaction to the plan: "They yelled, they cursed, they cried."
Yet not everyone is unhappy. Owners of 8,600 premises in Texas where livestock is maintained have already voluntarily registered with the state.
Among the early registrants are large operators in the cattle industry, where leaders say they favor the program because it will bring stability and safety to their industry.
"I don't think anyone needs to read too much into this or overreact at this point," says Matt Brockman, executive vice president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, based in Fort Worth. "We have to bear in mind that there are some devastating animal diseases around the globe that we have to be prepared for."
But not just large livestock operations are expected to register premises where animals are kept.
"If you have one horse, that's a premise," Texas Animal Health Commission spokeswoman Carla Everett says. "We ask for a physical address. We ask for a list of species on that property. We don't care how many acres you own, and we don't ask how many animals a person owns."
The Texas Animal Health Commission, which had hoped to begin charging Texans a $10 annual fee this summer to register their premises, has postponed making the voluntary program mandatory. A March meeting was canceled and nothing about the proposal is on the agenda for the commission's May meeting.
But the ear tag program, started in Texas with a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has begun as a test program with cattle and horses, Everett says.
Legvold wants no part of it, fearing it could become permanent: "My experience in dealing with these so-called programs that are voluntary pilot programs is that the pilot comes in for a landing and never takes off again."
As mad cow disease, bird flu and other diseases pose greater threats, Everett says governments must do what they can to track animal movements to prevent epidemics.
Barbara McKnight, president of the Texas Equestrian Trail Riders Association, says her organization is reserving judgment.
"I'm not sure how you can track horses," she says. "If I have to register every movement of a horse, that would cause a whole lot of headaches."
Other leaders in the horse industry say they do not understand why horses must be treated like cattle.
David Hooper, executive director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association, says he believes that the new state fees, if enacted, would be an added tax on livestock owners to generate revenue for the state budget.
His organization is against the ID program because the movement of thoroughbreds is already heavily regulated. Disease outbreaks are handled through quarantines, he says.
Everett says horses can spread diseases such as rabies, salmonella, ringworm and foot-and-mouth disease.
Eventually, state officials say, the state system will become part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's national ID program, which is still in the formative stages.
Congress is expected to vote on details of the plan, perhaps as soon as this summer.
Under the national plan, all premises where livestock are handled -- ranches, farms, feedlots, livestock markets, slaughter establishments, rendering plants, veterinary clinics, livestock shows, ports of entry, fair or exhibition sites, quarantine facilities and laboratories -- would be registered.
The second phase of the plan would involve recording and reporting animals that are moved, sold, commingled or slaughtered.
Hooper, of the Thoroughbred Association, says he agrees with Legvold that state officials did not make an all-out effort to get the word out. But Everett, of the animal health commission, says presentations were made across the state.
Even after the state program is finalized, information gathered by the government will not be shared with everyone.
The state law that created the program is not lengthy, but one of the lengthiest portions details how information collected by the state will be exempt from public disclosure through open records.
IN THE KNOW
If you have questions or comments about premises or animal registration or need assistance, contact the Texas Animal and Health Commission Premises & Animal Identification Help Desk at (800) 550-8242, ext. 733. Or send an e-mail to TXPRS@tahc.state.tx.us.
