My response to this is two fold.

Trace back MAY become necessary due to various health and disease control requirements. So is it necessay? I do not have an answer - I suppose I could say that I am a fence sitter.

Cost effectiveness - well, that would depend on whether or not it truly becomes necessary to trace the origin of an animal that carries a disease or that could have come into contact with a disease.

Once again I do not have an answer. I am quite up front when I say I am simply looking for answers because I freely admit I am not so sure at this time that it IS necessary. Then again - maybe it is?

If what is in place, then the animal I asked about in my original question could be traced back - or could it?

Be that as it may I also believe that whether or not we need or want this, it will come - if only to provide what export countries want. So, wdcook has chosen to ignore my question and provide a question for an answer instead.

I am quite happy with Mr. Freeman's letter - however the way I read the letter he said that hot branding was in place and sufficient. At present I am not so sure this is a completely effective method. That is why I asked my initial question. Either way I am in the explore mode.

Thanks,

B.C.