More than 85% of those completing an informal survey at the recent ID-INFO EXPO 2007 believe the U.S. isn't keeping pace with other developed countries regarding animal traceability for marketing and disease control.

Animal disease control topped the list when respondents ranked "the biggest need for implementing animal traceability systems." Second was export of livestock products; value-added livestock marketing was third; food safety and country-of-origin labeling ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.

When asked about the level of participation necessary for premises registration to be effective in disease traceability, 90% said 80-100% participation would be necessary. Of the remaining respondents, 6.6% thought 60-80% would be required, while 3.3% answered 40-60%. Nobody marked less than 40%.

Visit www.animalagriculture.org for more on the survey and the EXPO.