VERONA, WI. (October 30, 2007) The Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium (WLIC) is seeking as many as 40 livestock producers to volunteer their livestock operations for identification implementation projects.  WLIC will conduct the projects on multiple farms representing various segments of the livestock industry: at least ten dairy, ten beef, five pork, five sheep, five goat and five of other species.  

WLIC will work directly with each farm to ensure project success and will provide ID materials, devices, data collection equipment and software.  These projects will demonstrate that animal identification systems can be implemented effectively and efficiently in modern livestock enterprises – regardless of size or species.

One-third of the participating operations will use a traditional, paper-based ID system.  The others will use radio frequency ID (RFID) devices and integrate electronic data collection and herd management software.  

To volunteer for the implementation programs or for more information, producers should call WLIC at 1-888-808-1910 or visit www.wiid.org.

“The projects offer producers an opportunity to implement the ID system and technology in their daily operations,” says Robert Fourdraine, WLIC chief operating officer.  

It is WLIC’s goal to develop a system that meets regulatory needs, causes minimal intrusion into daily operations and still provides simultaneous benefits for livestock producers, industry groups and consumers.

The mission of the Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium (WLIC) is to create a secure, nationally compatible livestock identification system for the purposes of protecting animal health, safeguarding market access, and offering opportunities to enhance the marketability of Wisconsin livestock products.