http://www.naissucks.com/index.php?con=ctlr

The CTLR Position Statement on NAIS.

The Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Registry does not support any form of a mandatory National Animal Identification System (NAIS), including mandatory premises registration, animal identification, and/or government-mandated animal tracking. We are deeply concerned how such legislation would affect the wellbeing of our irreplaceable genetic base of this heritage breed.-

NAIS invades our privacy and violates the 1st, 4th, 5th, and 14th Amendments to the Constitution of the United States. NAIS, and any program like it, would adversely affect availability of locally produced, healthy food. The safety and security of our food supply is best protected when producers are responsible for sustaining a healthy herd and ecosystem. Government databases, in contrast, do not improve the health of the animals and are technologically vulnerable.

We advocate cattle be kept in their natural environment where instincts influence their behavior. We discourage confined feeding and unnecessary handling that are responsible for most bovine injuries and illnesses. Producers should remain free to move animals, while complying with current animal health requirements, without the added burden of reporting such movement to the custodian of a surveillance archive. Any government requirements limiting the free movement, sale, or use of animals should be clearly supported by scientific evidence showing that the animal health benefits to be obtained outweigh the costs in time, money, and the loss of freedom.

We support marketing of locally produced foods grown on sustainable farms. If an animal identification system benefits the export market, then it should be market driven with voluntary participation of those who will benefit from export. Independent producers and taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize the system. NAIS will not improve animal health or prevent the spread of disease, but it would cost producers, consumers and taxpayers higher fees to maintain databases that benefit only a few corporations. Tracking should be left to private enterprise utilizing Process Verified Programs that assure product quality and compassionate and humane standards of production.

We believe the NAIS is a leap away from democracy and our Bill of Rights. It is the first of many steps to follow that strip away citizens’ freedoms in favor of corporate dominance that will ultimately trap this country into dependence on foreign commodities. We support the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance in their position of opposition to a NAIS. We encourage our members to contact their legislators and request legislation that bars a mandatory program, stops government funding, and protects individuals from coercion or pressure to participate in any voluntary program.

Links for more information about NAIS

http://www.farmandranchfreedom.org/ Farm & Ranch Freedom Alliance

http://libertyark.net/ Liberty Ark Coalition

http://www.tofga.org/index.php?page=26&pp=1&lang=51 Texas Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association

http://www.westonaprice.org/federalupdate/aa2006/infoalert_041006.html Weston A. Price Foundation

http://www.ruralheritage.com/search_zone.cgi?searchZone=content&search=nais Rural Heritage

http://albc-usa.org/news.html American Livestock Breeds Conservancy

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hYssebw3_FRuof2bdR1YdCo8OgXA Latest news linking cancer to implanted microchips

http://www.alternet.org/rights/62858/  NAIS Truths

Read the full statement here:

http://www.naissucks.com/index.php?con=ctlr