'Interim' premises registration for animal I.D. plan has been selected

By JULIET BRISKIN | Staff writer

August 5, 2004 - In a recent press release, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the selection of a premises registration system that will serve as an interim solution for recording the location of animals and their movement.

According to the the USDA, the system was developed by the Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium and is currently undergoing enhancements for use in a limited number of states.

Jon Johnson of the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) explained that Texas has applied to the USDA to participate in the initial pilot program that will begin in early August.

"The USDA looked at a number of systems and its my understanding that they felt this system was the easiest, most workable program," stated Johnson. "We've submitted an application for the pilot project and I think Texas has a good shot at being chosen to participate, but we won't know for sure until the first of August."

The system will be phased-in gradually so that any problems can be addressed prior to a national release.