February 21, 2007

Microchips for animal identification

Farmers and ranchers can now register their large animals via a microchip-implanted "premise ID," which is entered into a USDA directory for use in case of an outbreak of a disease.

This not only helps track disease, but also reduces the impact of the same on farms and ranches that have not been affected by an outbreak.

The New Mexico Livestock Board is implementing the National Animal Identification System to track animals in case of severely contagious diseases such as equine viral arteritis, said veterinarian Dr Lee Gutierrez of Roswell.

The NAIS is intended to identify animals and poultry and record their movements over the course of their lifespan.

The USDA's goal is to create an effective, uniform national tracking system that will help maintain the health of US herds and flocks.

Livestock owners currently are required to have health certificates to transport or sell livestock, but Gutierrez said, that someday, a premise ID number would become mandatory.

The microchips, injected by a veterinarian under the skin of the animal's neck, are about the size of a grain of rice. Microchips contain the premise ID, which can be read by a scanner.