The agribusiness-sponsored group was established last week to speed the implementation of the comprehensive database, which the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) started building last July. The latter group supports the change in ownership.

A pilot database, which uses tracing software from ViaTrace LLC , will be rolled out by the USAIO later this month, said Rick Stott, a member of the NCBA's animal identification commission and a USAIO director. Stott is an Idaho-based beef producer.

He said the system will allow ranchers to enter relevant data via a spreadsheet or through XML formatting to the system's Web site. Data on the animals will be gathered using RFID and bar-code technology.

The database will initially be housed at ViaTrace's South Burlington, Vt., headquarters, until the USAIO finds an alternate host site, said Stott. The new group plans to hire a CEO and a CIO within six months to manage the project.