Animal ID – Thoughts From The Middle of Nowhere

I haven't talked about the animal ID issue for a while but it doesn't mean it hasn't been on my mind, it just hasn't been in the spotlight for a while. I see in today's Gazette though the issue has <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.com//index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/11/12/build/state/40-cattle-id.inc">come up</a> so I can't resist my 2 cents worth. n n<blockquote>Marc Bridges, executive officer of the Montana Department of Livestock and its former chief brand inspector, began his presentation before the MCA/R-CALF fourth annual Cattlemen's Day gathering at the Northern Hotel saying he thought the answer was found in three words: hot iron brand. n nIt is the most permanent identification, and its use dates from Egyptian society before Christ, he said. No other system of animal marking is as permanent and unalterable. </blockquote> n nThis is what I have said all along, what is wrong with our current brand system in Montana? I understand that other states might not have as good of system but since ours is it should be good enough. To me this falls under the tenth amendment to the Constitution. n n<blockquote>The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.</blockquote> n nIt's a state issue so if we want to use the brand instead of some fancy, high-tech, prone to loss, expensive, pain-in-the-ass ear tag we should be able to. n n<blockquote>Lyle Quick, a cattleman from the Circle area, suggested that Montana refuse to take part. n n"In Montana we have a system that works," he said. "Let's just refuse. Tell the government to stick the tag in their ear." </blockquote> n nI agree. Here's an issue some politician should get behind. n nIt is not government's job to mandate responsibility on our behalf. We have the intelligence and good sense to make wise consumption choices for ourselves and our children. Michael Crapo