Animal ID critics vent objections at ag meeting

Capital Press 6/9/09

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Hundreds of farmers are calling for a national system that could trace livestock during a disease outbreak to be scrapped.

Critics of the animal identification system filled a mid-Missouri hotel ballroom Tuesday for a town hall meeting hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The system registers animals and farms.

Some critics brought up civil liberty worries, others objected for religious reasons and many said they doubted the competency of the government to manage the tracking system.

Of the 55 people who spoke during the meeting, only one pork producer from western Missouri expressed support.