Love this blog post. I have never really stopped to think through the differences in traceability and transparency. As a predominately commercial Angus breeder though, these are not things that we think about on a daily basis because we are only one piece in the larger supply chain. IMO, either/both of these initiatives would need to start with the buyers (aka grocery stores and food distribution companies). And their looking solely at data and market trends to determine how to market and sell beef. Jayson Lusk at Perdue does great work on consumer trends and his latest report shows that price and "use by date" still dominate consumers' interest when standing at the meat counter. (https://ag.purdue.edu/cfdas/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Report_12-2022.pdf) So the big question is, do the Krogers and Wal-Marts of the world undertake any kind of transparency initiative or program if consumers aren't yet demanding it? Right now, those consumers that want to know who raised their beef can simply work through the local processor and purchase directly from the animal's owner. Here in Kansas we have been talking about animal ID (animal traceability) for more than 4 years and it's gone no where. It's not a value-add to the producer and no one wants to pick up the additional costs.
Love this blog post. I have never really stopped to think through the differences in traceability and transparency. As a predominately commercial Angus breeder though, these are not things that we think about on a daily basis because we are only one piece in the larger supply chain. IMO, either/both of these initiatives would need to start with the buyers (aka grocery stores and food distribution companies). And their looking solely at data and market trends to determine how to market and sell beef. Jayson Lusk at Perdue does great work on consumer trends and his latest report shows that price and "use by date" still dominate consumers' interest when standing at the meat counter. (https://ag.purdue.edu/cfdas/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Report_12-2022.pdf) So the big question is, do the Krogers and Wal-Marts of the world undertake any kind of transparency initiative or program if consumers aren't yet demanding it? Right now, those consumers that want to know who raised their beef can simply work through the local processor and purchase directly from the animal's owner. Here in Kansas we have been talking about animal ID (animal traceability) for more than 4 years and it's gone no where. It's not a value-add to the producer and no one wants to pick up the additional costs.