1. National Animal Identification
National Animal ID, Premises ID & the …
National Animal Identification
System (NAIS)
Dr. Max Irsik
Beef Cattle Extension Veterinarian
University of Florida
Gainesville FL
Steffany Dragon
Hillsborough County Extension
Pat Hogue
Okeechobee County Extension

2. Outline Technology Goals & Guiding Principles Timeline
Components -Premises ID -Animal ID -Animal Tracking
Technology

3. What is NAIS? NAIS is a voluntary program
It is a cooperative: state/federal/industry program administered by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection service (APHIS)
It is a tool to locate & contain animals that have potentially contagious diseases

4. 4 USDA guiding principles for NAIS
The system must be able to allow tracking of animals from point of origin to processing within 48 hours without unnecessary burden to producers and other stakeholders.
The system's architecture must be developed without unduly increasing the size and role of government.
The system must be flexible enough to utilize existing technologies and incorporate new identification technologies as they are developed.
Animal movement data should be maintained in a private system that can be readily accessed when necessary by state and federal animal health authorities

5. NAIS NOT BEING DEVELOPED FOR:
Production DATA information
Animal production data
Health
Genetics
Carcass info
Feeding info
Source and age verification
To encourage the government to spy on producers

6. Goal of NAIS
The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is a national program intended to identify specific animals in the United States and record their movement over their lifespan.

7. Goal of NAIS
It is being developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and State agencies—in cooperation with industry—
Enable 48-hour trace back of the movements of any diseased or exposed animal.
This will help to ensure rapid disease containment and maximum protection of America's animals.

8. Benefits of NAIS
Infrastructure to: - improve current disease eradication & control efforts -protect against widespread outbreaks of domestic and foreign animal diseases -address threats from deliberate introduction of disease
A tool to facilitate emergency management response systems
A firewall to protect the national health, reputation and economics of American agriculture
Maintain access to domestic and international markets

9. NAIS Milestones
June 2004 Cooperative agreements with states and tribes
August 2005 Premises registration systems operational
March 2006 individual animal ID begins
June 2006 Cooperative agreement with private and state (ATD)
Early 2007 Private State ATD operational

10. Latest Time Line for NAIS
All components of NAIS are to be operational by 2007
Full Implementation of NAIS by 2009
Full producer participation by 2009

11. Will this be a Mandatory Program?
If the marketplace, along with state & federal identification programs, does not provide adequate incentives for achieving full participation in the NAIS by 2009, USDA may take a regulatory approach.

12. NAIS Will be Phased In integrating 3 key components
Premises Identification
Locations that manage or hold animals
Will be identified with a unique 7 character identifier.
Animal Identification
Individually or as a group (Group Lot identification number)
Associates an animal with premise
NAIS Feb 23, 2006 “Administration of Official devices with the Animal Identification Number”

13. NAIS Will be Phased In Integrating 3 key components
3. Animal Tracking
As animals move the AIN will be associated with the New Premises
animals will maintain their original number
Information collected for each movement
AIN or GIN and PIN of receiving local
Date
Compatible technologies with Canada and Mexico

14. First Step: Premises Identification Number (PIN)
The identification of livestock premises is the foundation of the NAIS & must be established before animals can be tracked
National Premises ID numbers contain 7 alphanumeric characters. Ex. A123R79
Single PIN for each location regardless of different species…no separate PIN for cattle, horses, swine, etc.
Information associated with PIN: name of entity, contact person, address, contact phone, type of operation; NO proprietary production data
USDA assigns 1 permanent number to each location involved in animal agriculture; does NOT change when sold
Doesn’t cost a thing

15. Premise Registration
The first step in implementing the NAIS is identifying and registering premises that house animals.
Premises would include locations where livestock and poultry are
Managed
Marketed
Exhibited
AS of March ,000 premises or 10% of the national total.

16. Premises Registration
Foundation of the System
Has been implemented in all 50 states and 2 territories and several tribes

17. Multiple species and Premises ID
A single premises identification number will be used for each location, regardless of the number of species associated with it.
A producer will not have a separate premises identification number for
beef cattle
dairy cattle
swine
horses
poultry

18. Ideally, each location identified
Q. How is a premises defined when livestock enterprise has multiple locations?
Ideally, each location identified
Only home location required to be registered at this time…

19. 2nd Step: Animal ID
Being developed as a Government-industry partnership, share the cost
Animal Identification Number (AIN) will be 15 numeric characters, first 3 reflecting the internationally rec. code for the US (840) Ex
AIN will allow a single animal lifetime ID that can be printed on a tag, affixed, or assigned to the animal

20. Animal Identification
Will streamline emergency response and enhance existing disease surveillance, control and eradication
Identify each animal with a unique identifier and linking to its birth place or premise of origin

21. Animal Identification
BLASI

22. Why is Visual ID not Sufficient by Itself?
Does not identify animals as unique individuals that correlate back to a single herd
Does not indicate herd of origin
Does not meet the international requirements as a valid form of identification
Does not facilitate the recall or collection of information in an accurate and timely manner

23. Why Electronic ID? (EID)
Provides the linkage necessary for converting data into accessible and useable information with greater accuracy and timeliness
Workable at the speed of commerce ie a packing plant.

24. Placing tags Tag placed in the left ear
Placing the official identification tag consistently in the left ear will help create more awareness that it is the official tag and not to be removed
Proper placement improves retention

28. Q. Who is Responsible for Applying ID to Animals?
Initially, animals must be identified as they leave whatever premises on, regardless of where born
After a few yrs—Identifying animals will be responsibility of owner of each animal at its ‘premises of birth’
For producers who lack equipment for individual ID, tagging station available for a fee (livestock marketing facility, vet clinic, fairgrounds, etc.)

29. Q. When cow sold to other producer, does she need new premises ID tag for new location?
NO; one permanent animal id# (tag w/official AIN printed on it; when sold, animal movement reported, & database now associates AIN w/buyer’s PIN…nothing changes on the cow
Ex.
Rancher A
Rancher B
AID:
DATE: February 2, 2004
DATE: October 1, 2004
Premises: A12345D
Premises: Z54321A
Event: Tag Applied
Event: Arrived

30. Do I Have to Tag All of My Cattle?
No…if animals born, raised, and die on ranch, don’t need to be tagged
However…if a chance the animal will change ownership, co-mingle with other animals, or travel to another state, needs tagging

31. 3rd Component: Animal Tracking
ATD
Animal tracking databases
Are state or privately owned
Information obtained from these is not publicly available. FOI exempt
Maintain confidentiality

32. Tracking or Reporting Movement
When Animals enter commerce
change ownership go to a sale barn etc.
Move interstate feedyard in Kansas
Changes premises location
New owner
Commingles with animals from other premises
Bull stud commingled
Sale barn enters commerce
Taken to a show ????
Veterinary clinic ???

33. 4 pieces of Information collected and stored by USDA
Animal Identification Number, AIN, or Group/Lot Identification Number, GIN
Premises Identification Number, PIN, of the location where the event takes place
Date of the event
Event type: movement in, movement out, sighting of an animal at a location, termination of the animal

34. Federal Access to the Data
A confirmed positive test for list A diseases (Bioterrorism)
An animal disease emergency as, determined by the Secretary of Agriculture
The need to conduct a traceback to determine the origin of infection for a program disease (brucellosis, tuberculosis, etc)
The need to conduct surveillance for another domestic or emerging disease.

35. Government Access to the Data
Portal to the ATD
Animal Trace Processing System ATPS
Deployment anticipated early in 2007

36. USDA: Technology-Neutral Position
USDA develops standards for collecting & reporting info.
Industry & species working groups determine tech.

37. So Far… Cattle Working Group & Industry leaning toward animal id tags
The Electronic Tags cost approximately $2.50
The Producer will probably be responsible for the initial cost of the tag
Placement: in left ear
Cattle Working Group suggests that reporting of animal movement done by receiving party
Person sending animal must properly ID before: changes ownership, moves interstate, animal comingles w/animals from other premises

38. Technology Options…
Radio frequency: “RFID”…cross reference with a visual tag # so producer can maintain records visually, without scanner
Animal’s biometrics: Retinal Image, DNA, etc.
Electronic chips
Technology not yet determined, & adoption would be premature if the reason is simply to stay in compliance with the NAIS

39. Tag Standards Currently
USDA approval pending
Tags under review
USDA approved
Tag mfg.
Alflex,
Destron,
Y-Tex

40. TAG Standards One time use Unalterable Readability Tag Loss rates
Life of tags
Plasticity
Non toxic
Deterioration of printing on tag
ISO Standards 37, 57, 9352

41. Description of Printing
Must have imprinted the US shield on its surface
Two piece tags both shield and AIN with 840 country code on both pieces
Tag must bear the entire 15 digit AIN
US shield minimum width of 0.2 inches(5mm)
Font for all characters must be ARIAL

42. Description of Printing
Print size for bovine tags must be a minimum height of 0.2 inches for numbers and letters
ID of the mfg logo or trademark must be observable on the tag
The text unlawful to remove must be imprinted on the tag

43. Description of the Printing
A space should be inserted between each 3rd digit of the AID
Printing or information may be authorized if it does not compromise the readability of the tag.

44. Alternative Numbers that will be Eventually phased out
Acceptable variants of the "840" number include the following
A 15-digit sequence that begins with a 3-digit manufacturer code
A 15-character alphanumeric sequence that begins with "USA.“
USA

45. Take Home Message:
Government and Industry still working out NAIS glitches
However…it’s inevitable & beneficial to American agriculture (protecting the national herd & maintaining market access)
We can’t be left behind globally…European Union, Canada, Australia already have Animal ID systems in place
So…don’t go out on a limb regarding technology, but DO get your Premises ID registration completed & sent in today!

46. Questions?
Borrowed from Pat Hogue

47. Thank You
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