Update on animal identification in the U.S. (February 19, 2004)
By Cindy Schonholtz, NAIA Vice President, Animal Welfare Coordinator, Professional
Rodeo Cowboys Association
I have seen quite a few alarming emails regarding the plan to identify livestock
in the United States. The US Animal Identification
Plan (USAIP) has been developed by a team representing the nation's largest
livestock groups and focuses on enhancing the nation's ability to locate and
trace individual animals and/or groups of animals within 48 hours if an animal
health emergency should arise. This plan has been in the making for quite some
time and the cattle, swine and other industries that are affected by outbreaks
of disease created the existing proposal.
Recently, two bills have been introduced into Congress that would require mandatory
ID of all livestock, including horses within a short period of time after passage.
These are only proposed bills at this point, but if passed, the whole process
of identifying all livestock, including horses, would go forward quickly. That
said, there is still no concrete plan to identify all horses.
The existing USAIP plan has been accelerated since the first case of BSE has
been detected in the U.S. and many of the cattle originally imported from Canada
with the BSE infected cow cannot be found. For this and many other reasons,
Congress, animal industry, law enforcement and others are calling for a way
to quickly identify livestock in the case of a disease outbreak, bioterrorism
or other event that would require quick identification. The full text of the
proposed plan is available at: http://www.usaip.info
Two federal bills regarding animal ID introduced
US House Bill 3787: National Farm Animal Identification and Records Act
To amend the Animal Health Protection Act to require the establishment of an
electronic nationwide livestock identification system, to prevent the unauthorized
release of information collected under the system, to promote an objective review
of Department of Agriculture responses to livestock disease outbreaks, and for
other purposes. For bill information go to:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:h.r.03787: Status: 2/10/2004
Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
US Senate Bill 2008 National Farm Animal Identification and Records Act
To amend the Animal Health Protection Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture
to establish an electronic nationwide livestock identification system, and for
other purposes. For bill information go to:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:s.02008: Status: 1/20/2004
Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
For more information on the two bills and surrounding issues, read: Animal
ID may be the next big thing
Background
The American Horse Council provided this background information after a USDA
presentation at the American Horse Council Convention (before BSE was discovered
in the US). It explains why the process of identifying livestock is so important.
Dr. Valerie Ragan, Assistant Deputy Administrator, Veterinary Services, US
Department of Agriculture (USDA), provided an overview on the status and rationale
for the development of a national animal identification system. Dr. Ragan noted
that the overriding rationale for a national ID system is "to protect the national
herd, not only against emergency disease incursions, but also against routine
domestic diseases to get them under better control."
A foreign disease could be introduced into the US, either accidentally or possible
intentionally, she noted. "Being able to isolate the animals exposed and documenting
where they have been would be extremely important in limiting the effects on
the US of any disease introduction," Dr. Ragan said.
In response to this concern, the National Institute for Animal Agriculture
(NIAA) organized an Animal Identification Task Force some years ago and it has
prepared an initial work plan for different species group. The long-term objective
of the plan is "to be able to identify all premises and all animals that have
had contact with a disease of concern within 48 hours. Now it takes anywhere
from a few days to several months," Dr. Ragan noted.
Dr. Ragan reported that plans are progressing rapidly at this point in the
other livestock sectors. The focus is "on cattle and swine at the present time
because those species are at the highest risks for disease situations. We are
not developing an equine identification system, we are not even there yet,"
Dr. Ragan said.
Dr. Ragan recognized there is a lot of concern about who will have access to
what data and that is justified. "We are trying to build onto systems already
in place and kept by producers. But we don't need all information in those systems,
only key pieces of information that will allow us to track an animal in case
of a disease outbreak. For example, production records will not be made available
to USDA."
Dr. Ragan noted that there are plans "to expand into other sectors, like equine
and aquaculture. Nothing is mandatory at this stage. We must have a system in
place that is tried, and tested and proven and there is a reason for it before
it might be made mandatory," she concluded. "We will be developing this and
we encourage you to look at this effort and decide if you want to join in. We
are happy to work with you if you do."
The horse industry
Currently, there is no specific language in the USAIP that requires horses to
be identified. However, if the two bills currently in congress are passed without
amendment a plan would need to be put into place quickly. Please read the information
from the American Horse Council (AHC) on the possibility of the horse industry
being involved in this plan. It can be located on their web site at: www.horsecouncil.org
under latest news. Some of the information that has been circulating says that
a plan for horse identification is already in the works. The American Horse
Council has created a task force of representatives from the horse industry
to study this subject and AHC will continue discussions with the USDA. If such
a mandatory plan seems inevitable, AHC will continue to work to make sure the
industry shapes such a plan. Currently, the horse industry in Canada is working
to create a plan and present it to its members for approval.
Recent articles on the subject
White House seeks $60 million for national cattle ID system (AZ) http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/breaking/012904_mad_cow_funding.htm
Tagging livestock (CA) http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/living/health/7693162.htm
The House Agriculture Committee has just announced that a field hearing on
the subject will be held in Houston on March 5, 2004. For more information about
this hearing, or if you have questions or concerns about this plan and the effect
on the rodeo, horse and cattle industry, please contact Cindy Schonholtz at
719-528-4794 or email her at cschonholtz@prorodeo.com
You can also contact the American Horse Council directly at 202-296-4031
|
