Animal identification system underway in Missouri
By Katie Allen, Corner Post staff

Editor's Note: This article is part one of a three part series on the National Animal Identification system. Please stay tuned next week to read more about this system.

The idea of a national animal identification system in the United States is not a completely new concept. More than 60 years ago, cattle were given an ear tattoo when vaccinated for brucellosis, a contagious disease caused by Brucella bacterium most often found in swine and bovine animals. This method of tagging provided the United States with a very successful cattle identification program for many years.

As brucellosis becomes less of a problem in the country, however, its vaccination tagging method is currently becoming obsolete. Other similar U.S. animal identification systems have developed over the years, but the need for a uniform national system for all species of domestic animals is undeniable.

The National Animal Identification System (NAIS), proposed recently by the United States Department of Agriculture, would allow the “rapid tracing of animals during a (disease) outbreak situation, helping to limit the scope and expense of the outbreak.”

The USDA stresses the need for the NAIS in the United States, believing the program will survey foreign animal diseases more closely, improve biosecurity protection of domestic livestock, track the health status of all livestock in U.S. regions, distinguish vaccinated animals from those animals not vaccinated in their herd of origin, identify animal blood and tissue specimens, and improve international animal retail and trade.

Currently, the NAIS will affect various groups of domestic animals, including aquaculture, equine, cattle, bison, deer, elk, llamas, alpacas, goats, poultry, sheep and swine.

As a national identification program begins to develop, U.S. states are making the first move to gradually get the system underway. The Missouri Department of Agriculture has been working with the USDA on the program since 2002. In January 2005, Missouri began the first phase of the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Animal Identification Program (MAIP): premises identification.

In registering each animal premise in Missouri, an identification number will show where animals are born, managed, marketed or exhibited. The unique number, located on an electronic tag, will identify these animals, and a uniform animal tracking system will evolve.

Greg Onstott, Animal ID Program Specialist, says the focus right now in his office at the MDA is registering all animal premises in Missouri. Onstott said that premises identification is the “foundation of the (animal identification) program.”

According to Dr. Steve Goff, Deputy State Veterinarian at the MDA, approximately 2,500 livestock producers have voluntarily registered their premises so far in Missouri.

While premises identification is currently optional for livestock producers in Missouri, Onstott believes that premises identification will become mandatory within the next few years.

According to the USDA, the new identification system is in the testing stages while producer participation is voluntary. As it develops into a more refined program, the USDA will think about making the process of premises registration mandatory for all livestock producers.

Chris Zumbrunnen, Livestock Specialist in Northeast Missouri, said to make the animal identification program work, all livestock producers will eventually have to participate in the program. For some producers, making the program mandatory in the future may be the only way to get them to participate.
Livestock producers are advised to take advantage of the opportunity to register their premises while it is voluntary.

According to Tyler Brown, National Account Manager for Global Animal Management, Inc., farmers that register their premises now will be “ahead of the curve” when the actual animal tracking process is underway.

Goff said that farmers should think about registering their premises now at their leisure, rather than confronting the system at the sale barn on sale day in the future. Registering early will reduce any hassles incurred later, when registration becomes mandatory.

Some farmers, however, are hesitant to jump right in to the program.

“ There has been some resistance, as a few producers feel that the (animal identification) program is being driven by county commissioners and assessors as a way to make sure that the number of head of livestock they list on their assessment sheet is correct,” Zumbrunnen said.

The USDA recognizes these confidentiality concerns and has assured farmers that the identification information will be used for the purpose of tracking diseases. At this, the USDA is currently working on ways to keep the information out of the public for any other use.

Other Links:
Gallagher
Global Animal Management, Inc
Missouri Department of Agriculture
USDA

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