2-25-2004 |
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ANIMAL ID SYSTEM STILL IN PLANNING STAGES West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass is advising livestock producers in the state to be patient before purchasing any new animal identification equipment. “Although the need for a uniform national animal identification system is more apparent than ever, the actual form that the system will take is still in the planning stages,” said Commissioner Douglass. “Regardless of what people may have heard, no decisions have been made on the technology to be used. Livestock producers would, therefore, be well advised to hold off on the purchase of any equipment until USDA makes a final decision on how to proceed,” he added. The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) met through the weekend in Washington, D.C., for the group’s mid-year meeting with animal identification being high on the agenda. Commissioner Douglass chairs NASDA’s Animal and Plant Industries Committee, which will be instrumental in formulating proposals for future regulations. “What we’re looking for is a uniform system that allows for a traceback anywhere in the country within 48 hours,” said State Veterinarian Joe Starcher. Tracebacks allow animal health professionals to see all the places a diseased animal has been and all the other animals it may have contacted. “Speed is really of the essence when you’re talking about foreign animal diseases,” said Dr. Starcher. “Animal diseases spread exponentially. The faster they can be detected and quarantined, the more success will be achieved in eradicating the disease.” Dr. Starcher said that a number of companies are developing radio frequency-based identification systems that allow animals to be “scanned” as they pass an electronic chip reader. Data from the chips – which may be inserted under the skin or included on an ear tag – can then be stored on a computer database. The problem at this point is that the competing systems are not necessarily compatible with each other. Dr. Starcher added that USDA plans to have 12-digit facility identification numbers ready to roll out by July, and is aiming for July 2005 to have identification on (or in) cattle, sheep and goats. Dr. Starcher attended the West Virginia Cattleman’s Association Annual Meeting in mid-February and found that producers were behind the program, despite concerns about the potential cost to the industry. “There was no opposition from the industry because the benefit of the program is fully understood,” said Dr. Starcher. Contact: Buddy Davidson The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org. |
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