October 22, 2007

USDA buys electronic ID tags to improve control of animal disease

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced three manufacturers to produce 1.5 million radio frequency identification (RFID) ear tags that have met the requirements with National Animal Identification System (NAIS) standards.

The contracts, worth US$1.7 million, will produce ear tags that will be used specifically for USDA state-federal cooperative disease control and eradication efforts, such as bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis.

USDA said the ear tags will be distributed in areas that have high risk of disease outbreak or spread.

Bruce Knight, under secretary for USDA's marketing and regulatory programs, the tags will help achieve the goal of tracing an animal within 48 hours during a disease outbreak.

Three manufacturers are under contract to produce the RFID ear tags: Allflex USA Inc., Dallas Ft. Worth Airport, Texas; Digital Angel Corp., South St. Paul, Minn.; and Global Animal Management, Summit, N.J.

The average cost per unit to USDA for the bulk purchase is approximately US$1.13 per tag.

The National Animal Identification System consists of three components: premises registration, animal identification and tracing. The premises registration component of the system ensures the availability of a nationwide communications network to assist livestock owners and animal health officials in the event of an animal disease event. More than 420,000 premises nationwide have been registered to date.