The National Animal Identification System: Basics,

Blueprint, Timelines, and Processes

Prepared by:

C. Wilson GrayDistrict Extension Economist,

Agricultural Economics and Rural SociologyTwin Falls Research and Extension Center

University of IdahoEmail: wgray@uidaho.edu

Western Center for Risk Management Education

Western Extension Marketing Committee

The National Animal Identification System

• What is the National Animal Identification System?– A system capable of tracing an animal or group of

animals back to the herd that is the most logical source of a disease of concern

• Can trace potentially exposed animals that have moved from the subject premises.

• trace back to all of the locations a suspect animal has been within 48 hours

• provide information on all other animals that came in contact with the subject animal

The National Animal Identification System

• Why is it Important to Track Animals?– national plan will enhance disease

preparedness • provides the ability to quickly trace animals

exposed to disease

• permits rapid detection, containment, and elimination of disease threats

– This is essential to preserving the domestic and international marketability of our nation’s animals and animal products

The National Animal Identification System

• Are Only U.S. Animals Affected by the NAIS?– Animals entering the United States from other

countries will be subject to the same ID procedures• The ID devices on animals entering the United States would

remain on the animals as official devices

– The Canadian ID program is compatible with NAIS.

• Are the NAIS and Traceability Connected?– NAIS is designed to quickly trace live animal

movements in the event of a disease outbreak• Traceability can be established in a two-step process

– “farm to slaughter” and “plant to retail”

– Tracking throughout the system is possible, but only at higher cost

How Does the Recent BSE Discovery Impact the NAIS?

• USDA accelerated implementation of a nationwide animal ID plan– Mad-Cow Disease is a disease of the central

nervous system (CNS) in cattle• BSE has never been found in meat or muscle cuts • non-ambulatory animals are banned from entering

the food system

– important to be able to quickly trace an animal’s premises history

• NAIS should allow for this to occur within 48 hours

Who is Supporting the NAIS?

• dairy, cattle, sheep, and swine industries have developed preliminary implementation plans

• All other livestock are becoming engaged in the plan– goats, cervids, equine, aquaculture– poultry, llamas, and bison

How Will Implementation Occur?

• NAIS defines the standards and framework for a national animal ID system including: – a premise numbering system

– an individual and group/lot animal number system

– standards for data and data handling

• When Will Implementation of the NAIS Happen?– 29 state and tribal pilot projects were funded on

August 29, 2004

– USDA planned to begin issuing premises ID numbers by the fall of 2004

• farms, ranches, feed lots, packing plants, and other livestock locations

NAIS Timeline

Summary of Major Milestones

National Premisies System: Partial Operation

National Premisies System: Fully Operational

National ID Database: Partial Operation

National ID Database: Fully Operational

Implementation of Animal Identification Numbers - AIN Tags Available

Animal Identification Numbers - AIN used with all ID devices

Compulsory ID: Livestock in Interstate Commerce

Compulsory ID: Livestock in Intra-state Commerce

What Will the NAIS Cost?

• Federal government may pay $165 million, or one-third of the cost, over five years– partners in bearing the cost

• USDA

• state governments

• the livestock industry

– Costs of the plan are• ID device(s)

• retrofitting facilities to utilize the ID devices

• upgrades to software to handle the database requirements

– Volume requirements and technology advances will lower costs

How Will the NAIS Work?

• NAIS currently supports the following species and/or industries:– bison, beef cattle, dairy cattle– swine, sheep, goats, camelids (alpacas and

llamas)– horses, cervids (deer and elk), poultry (eight

species including game birds)– aquaculture (eleven species)

Three Phases of Implementation

• Phase I– making premises ID available

• this should be implemented in the fall of 2004

• Phase II– individual or group/lot ID of animals inter- and

intrastate commerce• planned for implementation by February 2005.

• Phase III– retrofitting remaining processing plants, market

outlets, and other industry segments with appropriate technology to track animals throughout the livestock marketing chain

• planned for implementation by July 2006.

Implementation

• Initial focus on the cattle, swine, and small ruminant industries. – standards apply to all animals within the

represented industries regardless of their intended use as seed stock, commercial, pets, or other personal uses

– Animal ID work began with the cattle industry due to concerns about Mad-Cow Disease

– ID work will also begin with other major food animals such as hogs, sheep, and poultry

For More Information

• The U.S. Animal Identification Program is at– www.usaip.info

• USDA/APHIS also has information at– http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/highlights/sectio

n3/section3-10.html

Publications In This Series

• C. Wilson Gray: The National Animal Identification System: Basics, Blueprint, Timelines, and Processes

• DeeVon Bailey: Benefits and Costs of Animal Identification

• Michael Roberts: Product Liability Types (negligence vs. strict liability)

• Michael Roberts: Information Management Confidentiality

• Wendy Umberger: Cool vs. Animal ID

• Darrell Mark: Structural Issues - Feedlot/Stockers/Cow-Calf/Purebred

• Ruby Ward: Value of Production Information

• Kynda Curtis: Consumer Driven Forces

• Jim Robb: Technical and Pricing Issues Related to Traceability

• Russell Tronstad: Challenges of Adoption in Western Production Systems

• Michael Coe: Working with Technology Providers

• Dillon Feuz and Jim Robb: Implications for the future

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