AGRICULTURE NEWS - Traceability involves more than simply identifying animals and keeping track of a particular livestock unit throughout the value chain.

It entails a complete herd management system that includes the sustainable use of natural resources; a programme to ensure the health, welfare and safety of the animals and animal products produced and sold; animal recording and breeding according to genetic potential for optimal production under given environmental conditions; and sound record-keeping to prove compliance with good management practices.

I was provided with the ideal opportunity to put these guidelines into practice when asked in 2018 by Tommie van Zyl, CEO of ZZ2, to develop and implement such a comprehensive system for its beef cattle division. 

ZZ2 employs a systems approach to every production unit of its farming business, but its beef cattle division at the time lacked such an approach.

Read the full article here on the Caxton publication, Farmer's Weekly