USDA announced Thursday that, effective Jan. 1, 2008, cattle eligible for export verification programs can no longer be back verified for age, according to a report posted on Cattlenetwork.

Cattle that have left the ranch of origin must be age verified by Jan. 1, or they will not be eligible for export verification programs that require age verification, such as Japan.

Going forward, cattle must be age verified prior to leaving the ranch of origin to qualify for age verification premiums.

By Tom Johnston on 10/22/2007 for Meatingplace.com