July 2026 — Preparing the first cattle collections

World Forest ID is preparing the first farm-to-slaughter collections for its cattle traceability project. The aim is to test whether chemical signals in farm and animal samples can provide reliable information about where cattle were raised.

Finding suitable farms and abattoirs — The immediate priority is to identify farms with known cattle histories and abattoirs that can keep those animals clearly linked to the farm during processing. World Forest ID is speaking with prospective partners in the United Kingdom, the United States and Latin America. The strongest options are farms where cattle have remained on one property, together with abattoirs that can manage those animals as a clearly separated batch.

Preparing the collection process — A detailed collection guide has been developed for trained collectors. At each participating farm, collectors will take samples of water, grass and feed. Tail hair, meat and skin will then be collected from five cattle linked to that farm at slaughter. Unique IDs will keep each sample connected to the correct farm and animal. The procedures also cover farm and abattoir safety, sample labeling, storage and transport.

Preparing for laboratory analysis — Alongside partner recruitment, the team is refining the analytical procedure and assessing laboratory options. The different samples require different handling: meat and skin must remain frozen, water must stay chilled, and grass, feed and hair must be kept dry. International shipping and import requirements also need to be agreed before collections begin.

What happens next

The next milestone is the first complete collection linking farm samples with hair, meat and skin from the same cattle at slaughter. This will test the full process from animal identification to sample handling, and transport and provide the first data needed to assess which chemical signals offer the clearest information about origin.

Help us find suitable participants

We are looking for farms and abattoirs that can trace cattle from the farm through to slaughter. We also welcome introductions to suitable participants.