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Re: [RC] [RC] National Animal Identification System - ll coleI've had quite a few talks with our USDA Area Vet in Charge for the State of Kansas about this program. He is well versed in it. Its in response to some of the catastrophic disease outbreaks worldwide over the last few years, Mad Cow being one of them. It will eventually be implemented for all commercial producers. The method of id, especially for horses, is still undetermined. The major focus at this point is getting the premises id in place. Each producer will be issued a number that will then relate to whatever method of id is used with their animals. In the case of producers of large numbers of animals, such as poultry, the identification will be down to groups of animals as in a Lot of animals from Barn #... on the Smith Farm, Premises ID #... For producers of cattle, horses, and smaller numbers of animals where the identification of individual animals is logistically feasible, some form of id, an ear tag, tattoo, microchip or ??? will be used. Nothing has been mandated as to the method of id. So for small producers the premises will be id and the individual animals will be also. According to both our AVIC and the USDA Epidemiologist for Kansas, at this point the States have been charged with implementing the program and the USDA stands by to support them in whatever way is necessary. They also both agree that unless we have a catastrophe, the program will probably move along very slowly the way govt programs tend to do and that the 2009 date will get backed off. Currently the only real support the program has is from the big commercial producers. Small producers have begun to be vocal and the politicians have distanced themselves. Probably more than you wanted to know, but there isn't any push to id horses at this point. Barry Cole. Kansas
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