USAHA News
United States Animal Health Association
Contact - Larry Mark - (703) 451-3954 - ldmark@erols.com


For immediate release:


VOLUNTARY ANIMAL ID SYSTEM STRESSED BY USDA

     MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Oct. 18, 2006 -- At their meeting here this week, 
members of the U.S. Animal Health Association (USAHA) Committee on 
Livestock Identification heard Bruce Knight, Under Secretary of Agriculture for 
Marketing and Regulatory Programs, reiterate USDA support for a voluntary 
National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

     Secretary Knight also emphasized USDA's four guiding principles behind the 
NAIS. They are (1) avoid unnecessary burden to livestock producers, (2) avoid 
growth in government, (3) maintain flexibility and (4) keep data in private hands.  

     Committee discussions centered on interim strategies to increase identification of
livestock as work continues to fully implement the NAIS.  Updates indicated that all three key
components of the NAIS -- premises registration, animal identification and animal tracking -- are
being implemented.  In particular, reports indicated that increased numbers of premises are being
registered as part of the NAIS, with about 2,500 additional premises being signed up per week..  

     The Committee recommended adoption of a "bookend" approach as an interim step in
reaching a complete animal ID tracking system.  "Bookend" refers to the fact that an animal
would be identified at two opposing points in its life; i.e., at its farm of origin and then either at
slaughter or if it is diagnosed with a reportable animal disease.  It was noted that Canada started a
"bookend" system before progressing to a more complete national animal identification system.

     Other topics at the Committee meeting that received considerable discussion included
confidentiality of information; incentives for participation; private versus public animal tracking;
outbreak; opposition by animal-owning entities outside mainstream animal agriculture;
responsibility for animal event reporting; need for infrastructure support; cooperative
agreements; and impacts of small and large livestock operations on disease-control efforts.

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