Animal Electronic ID System on long course

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Dr. Larry Falconer says the I.D. program is an "ever changing story."

Jan. 13, 2004 - If you're waiting to hear the latest on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Electronic Identification System, don't hold your breath. With each month seems to bring new information ... or, a lack of such.

For the last several years, USDA officials have been planning an identification system for animals, starting with cattle, in the United States. The discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) seemed to increase the need and urgency of such a program, but rules and regulations are slow in development.

In April of 2004, the USDA reported they had $18.8 million to start work on a computerized animal identification system. The importance of the feature would be the ability of a national data base to allow health officials to track the origin and movement of diseased animals within 48 hours of discovering a problem.

While the idea has been kicked around political arenas for several years, as well as within producer, feedlot and slaughterhouse circles, ideas continue to change and the time for implementation continues to be extended.

The latest information occurred in November of 2004 when a rule change recognized additional numbering systems for identification in interstate commerce and state/federal/ industry cooperative disease control and a national standardized numbering system. This system would identify premises where animals were managed or held, and is to be an "interim" rule.

The "premise" is explained as a "seven-digit number that identifies a producer's farm location in the state." It will record the name, address, phone, e-mail and type of operation. More than likely, it will, also, contain the Geographic Positioning Satellite (GPS) coordinates which will identify the location of the land.

According to Extension specialists Dr. David Anderson and Dr. Larry Falconer, who addressed producers at the recent Corpus Christi Farm and Ranch Show, the identification program is in a "voluntary" program, as of this date, but is expected to become mandatory by 2008. Of course, they are first to admit that all of the above is "subject to change."

The first implementation will include a "premise" identification that will be issued through the Texas Animal Health Commission. The preferred method of identification will be the electronic ear tags for animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats. Anderson and Falconer demonstrated several ear tag sensors and the "readers" that will/can be used to read the sensors.

Texas is one of at least 20 states allocated federal monies to conduct to a pilot project for identifying and recording animal identification.

"It's an ever-changing story," explained Falconer.

There are a number of software packages available for producers to use in the tracking of animal identification numbers, and the Excel program on computers can be used as well. The major requirement will be that the individual producer be able to track their cattle from birth until sale or death. The tracking will include inoculations and other pertinent information concerning the health and sale of the animals.

"At this point, everybody doesn't have to do anything!" said Falconer.

Producers questioned the cost of individual ear tags ($2.25-$2.50 each), as well as what will happen if a cow is out in the pasture and looses an ear tag. It is not known if the same number will be "reissued," or a new number implanted in the animal.

Nothing is set in stone, and the way things are looking, information and details will continue to change from the USDA concerning animal identification; especially as information from the pilot projects becomes available.

The best information that Falconer and Anderson could give the producers is to "stay tuned." It is known that cattle will be the first animals involved in the identification process, but sheep, goats and other animals are expected to follow in later years.

According to the USDA, "the goal is to create an effective, uniform, consistent and efficient national system."

Texas producers and others will just have to wait and see if it really works ... stay tuned.