Ranchers fear lack of support for branding

Since a new framework for animal disease traceability was introduced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture last year, cattle raisers have been up in arms for fear that the centuries-old hot-iron branding methods may be on the way out. Instead, the USDA wants every cow to have a unique numerical ID, stamped on an inexpensive ear tag, to make it easier to track animals from the ranch to feedlots and the slaughterhouse. Even as the USDA says it never set out to undermine the traditional brand, cattlemen feel that when the government steps in it will make things more complex. They also fear the withdrawal of federal support for branding might embolden animal-rights activists who call the practice barbaric. The new rules set to replace the National Animal Identification System were strongly opposed by numerous livestock industries and associations, including Fort Worth-based Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. Although Western movies showing cowboys branding cattle with a hot iron have created the image that the practice started in the Old West, documented history gives verification the practice goes back thousands of years to the days of the ancient Greeks, Arabians, Romans and Egyptians. "It is a great deal easier in court when stolen animals are fire branded. Prosecutors prefer to try cases where the animals have been branded," said Scott Williamson of Seymour, a TSCRA special ranger. Modern cattle rustlers would delight in the current highly promoted electronic ID. Any cattle rustler could easily remove, replace, change and/or cut off ear tags and electronic pins...more

...when the government steps in it will make things more complex.

No, no, no.  Don't you understand?  The gov't only steps in when things are too "complex" for poor old ignorant folks like us in the private sector.

I wonder what kind of traceability system they had in Ancient Greece?  I'll check with Hermes the Greek god of land and cattle fertility.

Hermes tells me they worked it out for themselves, without any assholes from Athens messing things up.   He reminded me he was also the god who accompanied souls to Hades.  I requested he grab a couple of those USDA fellows and give them a nice escort.  Nothing complex about that.