Animal Identification Information |
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Why the Need for Livestock Identification?
- Foreign Animal Disease control, surveillance, and prevention
- Biosecurity protection of the national herd
- Identification of livestock vaccinated or tested under official disease control or eradication program
- Official identification of animals in interstate or international commerce
- Accurate identification of blood and tissue specimens
- Improvement of laboratory diagnostic and reporting capabilities
- Health status certification of herds, States, and Regions
- Effective regionalization and risk assessment in support of international trade
History of Livestock Identification
Livestock identification in the United States has been documented in large animal production industries dating back to the late 1800's and early 1900's. Cattle ranchers, to indicate ownership and deter theft, first used hot iron branding. Swine producers for registration and record keeping purposes used ear notches for individual animal identification. These two methods are rapidly losing popularity due to concerns about humane treatment of animals and a decrease in product value.
APHIS and its predecessor agencies began using ear tags, back tags, tattoos and face brands in the early 1960's. These identification methods were required by statutory regulations and successfully used to trace the movements of diseased animals during disease outbreaks and eradication programs. With this long history of contact with the field, APHIS has led the way in the development of national identification systems. The agency continues to place a high priority on livestock identification and database development.
Current methods of livestock identification include but are not limited to ear tags, back tags, neck chains, tail tags, freeze brands, tattoos, paint marks, and leg bands. Electronic identification methods including bar codes and/or radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders are becoming increasingly useful tools in herd management programs. As these new technologies develop and become compatible with one another, they may prove to be cost-effective tools to increase the efficiency of production. Similarly, regulatory agencies may benefit from these systems through increased accuracy and efficiency of tracing the movement of livestock.
The current primary driving forces behind the development of livestock identification systems are based on recognized industry needs. They include disease control and eradication, disease surveillance and monitoring, emergency response to foreign animal diseases, regionalization, global trade, livestock production efficiency, consumer concerns over food safety, and emergency management programs.
The Secretary of Agriculture has the statutory authority and responsibility to determine that when "any State, Territory, or the District of Columbia are affected with any contagious, infectious, or communicable disease of livestock or poultry for which, in his opinion, a quarantine should be established" notice will be given and a rule will be issued and included in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Thus, the CFR contains all the rules governing the movement and handling of animals in interstate commerce for the purposes of controlling or eliminating disease in livestock.
Regulations regarding the interstate transportation of animals (including poultry) and animal products are found in:
- General Provisions (9 CFR 71)
Regulations Pertaining to Disease Control
Current disease eradication programs:
- Tuberculosis (9 CFR 77)
- Brucellosis (9 CFR 78)
- Scrapie in goats and sheep ( 9 CFR 54) & (9 CFR 79)
- Pseudorabies (9 CFR 85)
Disease control and certification programs under NAHP:
- Communicable disease in horses (9 CFR 75)
- Johne's disease in domestic animals (9 CFR 80)
- Commercial Transportation of Equines to Slaughter (9 CFR 88)
Other disease control and certification programs:
- Texas fever in cattle (9 CFR 72)
- Scabies in cattle (9 CFR 73)
- Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) and chlamydiosis, poultry disease caused by salmonella enteritidis stereotype enteritidis (9 CFR 82)
Industry Aids
APHIS has developed several information booklets, which provide program guidelines:
- Brucellosis Eradication, Uniform Methods and Rules (PDF)
- Swine Brucellosis Control/Eradication; State-Federal-Industry Uniform Methods and Rules (PDF)
- Pseudorabies Eradication, State-Federal-Industry Program Standards (PDF)
- Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program Standards (PDF)
- Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication, Uniform Methods and Rules (PDF)
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