U.S. CattleTrace and Where Food Comes From, Inc. Join Forces to Strengthen Voluntary Animal Disease Traceability in the U.S. Beef Industry

Wamego, KS – In a significant step toward unifying the U.S. beef industry around a nationally significant, voluntary animal disease traceability initiative, U.S. CattleTrace has announced a strategic alliance with Where Food Comes From, Inc. As the nation’s leading third-party verification company, Where Food Comes From, Inc. brings decades of expertise in value-added traceability, aligning seamlessly with U.S. CattleTrace’s mission to develop a robust, rapid contact voluntary tracing database.

“The need for the industry to unite around one effort to accomplish animal disease traceability is paramount to achieving a nationally significant contact tracing program,” said Joe Leathers, chairman of the U.S. CattleTrace Board of Directors. “With Where Food Comes From’s long-standing leadership in value-added verification, I’m excited to see the progress we can make together in advancing this important initiative.”

John Saunders, CEO of Where Food Comes From, Inc., emphasized the importance of industry-wide collaboration: “The U.S. cattle industry is unique in that animal disease traceability remains voluntary, making it essential for leading industry players to take proactive steps. By working together, we can better prepare for and mitigate the impact of potential animal disease challenges, ensuring business continuity and strengthening the resilience of our supply chain.”

This partnership allows cattle producers to capitalize on the economic advantages of value-added verification programs through Where Food Comes From, Inc., while also reinforcing their operations with enhanced disease traceability measures-- if they choose-- without duplication of working with multiple systems. The collaboration positions the industry to maintain high biosecurity standards, which will be crucial in safeguarding the long-term sustainability of American beef production.

U.S. CattleTrace and Where Food Comes From, Inc. remain committed to empowering producers with the tools and resources necessary to strengthen the beef industry while maintaining producer independence and market access.

For more information on U.S. CattleTrace, visit uscattletrace.org. For more information on Where Food Comes From, Inc., visit wherefoodcomesfrom.com.

About Where Food Comes From, Inc.:
Where Food Comes From, Inc., is the market leader in third-party verification services, enrolling more than 2.5 million cattle annually in various verification programs. Where Food Comes From, Inc. is a trusted source for food verification and supply chain transparency, providing industry-leading expertise in traceability, sustainability, and verification solutions.

 About U.S. CattleTrace:

Originally established as CattleTrace Inc. in 2018, U.S. CattleTrace Inc. is a private, not-for-profit corporation dedicated to securely maintaining and managing data collected as part of a national disease traceability initiative. Led by a board of directors representing all segments of the cattle industry—including cow-calf, livestock markets, and cattle feeding—U.S. CattleTrace aims to develop a comprehensive, voluntary disease traceability system that enhances biosecurity and supports the long-term sustainability of the beef supply chain.