The
US Animal Identification Plan (USAIP) is designed
to maintain the economic viability of American animal agriculture.
This national animal identification and tracking plan will enhance
disease preparedness by rapidly identifying animals exposed to disease,
thus allowing quick detection, containment, and elimination of disease
threats. This is essential to preserve the domestic and international
marketability of our nation's animals and animal products. The USAIP
will promote continued confidence in livestock products and will
protect the health status of our nation's herds and flocks.
The
plan, when fully operational, will be capable of tracing an animal
or group of animals back to the originating herd or premises that
is the most logical source of a disease concern. It will also be
able to trace specific potentially exposed animals that were moved
out from that herd or premises. The plan's long-term goal is to
establish a system that can complete these traces (back and forward)
within 48 hours of discovery of a disease situation.
This
new plan will make use of Radio Frequency Identification
(electronic ID technology) eartags attached to each animal. The
ear tag information will include data on the premises (or owner's
main location point) as described by GPS coordinates. Each animal
will also have a unique animal ID number (part of a new national
animal numbering system to be implemented) recorded via this tagging
device. Much like an "easy tag" affixed to a vehicle traveling
on a tollroad, each animal can be scanned and standardized information
can be obtained including the owner's name, home premises location,
and subsequent movings and transport of this animal. Each time an
animal is moved from the home premises to an auction barn, to a
sale, to a processing plant, to another owner, that data will be
updated and recorded.
At
this time, the program is in the process of implementation with
various preliminary tasks to be completed along various timelines.
Premises
Identification
The USAIP timeline calls for the establishment of the National Premises
System during 2004. Various ranches and production points will need
to be enrolled and each will receive a premises identification number
based on GPS locatior coordinates for the main location of operation
for that program or business..
Animal
Tagging
Each animal will be affixed with an eartag encoded with a unique
animal identification number. These animal ID's will be recorded
along with the ranch Premises ID Number and a database of animals
for that location will be established. Tags should be avaialble
through veterinarians and feed stores. Timelines for getting all
animals tagged has not yet been determined.
Details
on this new program that will affect all ranchers and producers
are slowly emerging. For more information and addiitonal reading,
see the following:
The
USAIP Website
Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQ's) Concerning the Animal ID Program
Cattle
Today: "Huntin' for Daylight—Voluntary or Mandatory
Animal ID"
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