August 29, 2007

USDA reviews proposals for livestock ear tags

The United States Drug Administration (USDA) is reviewing several proposals for the production and delivery of 1.5 million radio frequency ear tags (RFID) for livestock.

The ear tags will be used to identify US livestock that are part of current animal disease programmes. They would have to be compliant with the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) standards.

The tags enable accurate animal identification and increase programme administration efficiencies, said Bruce Knight, undersecretary for USDA's marketing and regulatory programmes.

They would also allow authorities to carry out rapid traceback when animal disease outbreaks occur, he added. By quickly identifying affected animals, the impact of the outbreak on neighbouring herds and premises could be limited.

NAIS is an information system that helps producers and animal health officials respond quickly to disease outbreaks.

The tagging programme currently in use is expected to focus on regions where bovine tuberculosis testing and the brucellosis calfhood vaccination programmes are most active. Tagging of livestock with the RFID tags in the US is voluntary.