In a move to unify the industry behind one effort to accomplish a nationally significant, voluntary animal disease traceability system, U.S. CattleTrace and IMI Global, the nation’s largest third-party cattle verification company, have entered into a strategic alliance. The move bolsters U.S. CattleTrace's mission to build a rapid contact tracing database along with IMI Global’s mission to continue adding value for American beef producers, the companies said.

“The need for the industry to unite around one effort to accomplish animal disease traceability is paramount to accomplishing our goal of a nationally significant contact tracing program,” said Mark Gardiner, chairman of the U.S. CattleTrace Board of Directors. “With IMI Global’s long history as the industry leader in value-add traceability, I’m excited to see the progress we can make as an industry in accomplishing this important goal.”

John Saunders, chief executive officer of IMI Global, added, “The U.S. cattle industry is unique in terms of animal disease traceability being voluntary across certain sectors, so it is important that leading industry players takes steps to prepare for and effectively mitigate the impact of any future animal disease outbreak.”

The strategic alliance will allow producers to leverage the benefits of value-add traceability opportunities through IMI Global, while also uniquely positioning their operations with the added disease traceability and enhanced biosecurity requirements that will be paramount to business continuity in the face of a disease outbreak.