The confusion with animal identification seems to increase with each producer meeting designed to provide animal identification information. There are basically two ID program goals. Programs are designed either to share information and increase the value of the animals via documentation (value-added) or to track animal movement and ensure the health of the US livestock herd (NAIS).

Numerous value-added programs have been developed where producers can enroll cattle in either a Quality Systems Assessment (QSA) or a Process Verified Program (PVP) to document characteristics such as age, source, health and breed. These programs are certified and audited by the USDA to ensure specific product requirements are met. The Japanese export requirement for cattle to be 20 months of age or younger is an example of a program requirement.

The goal of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is to identify all animals and premises that have had contact with a foreign or domestic animal disease of concern within 48 hours after discovery. One of the major concerns producers have with NAIS is information confidentiality. The NAIS guiding principles suggest only animal information required to contain the spread of animal disease will be maintained by the database. The NAIS is designed to protect the health of the US livestock herd without sacrificing the producer confidentiality therefore no marketing advantages will be a direct result of NAIS.

Many times confusion begins with the ear tag used in conjunction with ID programs. If value-added programs use a tamperproof electronic tag with a unique 15 digit number placed in the animal’s left ear then that tag will be suitable for use in the National Animal Identification System. Both programs can use the same ear tag but participating in one program does not mandate participation in the other.

Producers interested value-added program information or USDA approved PVP or QSA providers can visit http://processverified.usda.gov/ and http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/arc/qsap.htm for more information.

Premise registration is a voluntary part of the NAIS. Producers are encouraged to register their Illinois premise on-line at http://www.agr.state.il.us/premiseid/.

Justin Sexten, 618-242-9310, sexten@uiuc.edu
Date: January 24, 2006