The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is Here

The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) has three components: registration of premises, animal identification, and animal movement tracking. In cooperation with the USDA, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has created a website for premise identification (http://www.californiaid.org). As of 2005, the CDFA were actively working with the USDA and 3 other states on a pilot program of animal identification and tracking the movement of dairy cows. By the end of 2006 or early 2007, the animal tracking systems should be completed.

Horses are designated as livestock, not pets, and as such will be subject to NAIS. "The NAIS covers cattle and bison, cervids (e.g., deer and elk); goats; horses; camelids (e.g., llamas and alpacas); poultry; sheep; and swine."

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), "the primary purpose of the NAIS is to enable rapid animal tracing and disease containment in the case of an animal disease outbreak or other emerging animal health concern among U.S. livestock and poultry."

The driving force behind the system is reducing the huge economic impact and health risks caused by disease outbreaks. For instance, hundreds of millions of dollars were lost in cattle exports and thousands of poultry had to be destroyed in the past decade with outbreaks. Investigations that take weeks or months to trace back disease to the source herds or flocks impact both containment and responding to concerns. Health concerns can have a far more reaching economic effect.

The current system of registering premises, animal identification and tracking animal movement is voluntary. However, the USDA has implied in many of its published works that a failure to see the program meet it's expectation of 100% of premises registered by 2009 would result in regulations being drafted to enforce compliance.

The state of Wisconsin has already passed into law the mandatory registration of premises effective November 1, 2005 (http://www.datcp .state.wi.us/premises/index.jsp). Michigan has legislation in place to mandate animal identification by March 1, 2007. California has established its premise identification system, has piloted animal identification and movement tracking, and is presently a voluntary system.

The introduction of NAIS has been met with a range of responses from farmers and ranchers. Some see the program as nothing more than an extension of inventory control and a method to respond to the safety and integrity of food being exported. Some farmers see the program as an intrusion with potential costs making it difficult for them to stay in business without the program addressing the source of disease (http://www.farmand ranchfreedom.org). Hobby farmers or those producing food for their own consumption would still be expected to register their premises, but should have little additional impact according to the USDA. The intent of NAIS is to track the movement of animals commingling and potentially a disease vector.

The methods of animal identification can range from simple branding to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). For poultry or other similar livestock, lot identification may be used. Some of the methods of RFID suggested are similar to the micro chipping used in identifying pets today. It is a device attached or embedded that is easily read by an electronic scanner. In a large cattle ranch, it is more akin to inventory control. Cattle can be identified coming and going from the ranch. Spring branding would simply include attaching the RFID device to the calves.

So far, you will note little has been said of horses other than the species is included in the NAIS program. In California, the pilot projects have all had to do with evaluating the systems having to do with livestock resulting in food products. Horses introduce a range of issues that have not been addressed in these evaluations in California. Most of our readers are recreational horse people or event competitors. Most recreational horse people either board their horses at stables or keep horses in their back yard. According to the literature, the "USDA encourages all owners of animals covered by the NAIS to register their premises."

Many horse owners in Los Angeles have been lax in keeping their licenses up to date with the Department of Animal Regulation even though this is one of the key points to ensuring neighboring home improvements do not impact your horse keeping. As 2009 approaches where in the USDA will be looking for 100% of premises keeping horses to be registered, it is presumed methods of sharing information between local, state and federal agencies will be reviewed and utilized, even though this does not exist today.

In the Fall of 2003, "the American Horse Council organized a task force that included nearly thirty national equine organizations. Its purpose was to evaluate the concept of a national ID system and to determine if the horse industry could develop standards for equine identification that would benefit the industry and be compatible with the plans being considered. This task force has now been recognized as the Equine Species Working Group (ESWG) by the USDA. It is important that the ESWG, as representatives of the horse industry, be directly involved in preparing for this system and ensuring that if it becomes mandatory the horse industry can operate within its guidelines." (http://www.horse council.org/equineid.htm)

According to the current USDA literature, "NAIS: A Guide for Small-Scale or Non-Commercial Producers" dated June 2, 2006, "Animals used for recreational purposes do not need to be identified if they are permanently cared for at their birth premises. Taking your animal on a trail ride with a neighbor would not be a reportable movement."

"Why should horses be included in NAIS? NAIS is intended for use in responding to any highly contagious animal health concern among U.S. livestock and poultry. Horses can be infected with and transmit diseases of interest such as streptococcus equi (strangeles), equine infectious anemia (swamp fever), rhinopneumonitis (Herpes II), salmonellosis, and vesicular stomatitis, among many other diseases. NAIS could allow USDA to quickly contain and eradicate a disease before it spreads outside a given area."

"Will NAIS require that all animal movements be reported? Will I have to record all trail rides and which properties I cross? No. Recording all animal movements would not be practical, nor is that the intention with NAIS. Reportable movements under the NAIS would include movements with a high potential for spreading disease (i.e., movements where animals commingle with other animals). By recording the movement of animals as they come in contact with other animals, animal health officials will be able to quickly identify exposed animals and stop the spread of disease."

As with any system, it is the gray areas that will cause the most confusion and be the most difficult to enforce. For instance, existing USDA literature indicates riding your horse in a local parade or show would not be an event needing to be reported. However, other USDA literature states, "Reportable movements are those that involve a high risk of spreading disease, such as moving livestock from a farm to an event where a large numbers of animals are brought together from many sources."

Recreational horsemanship fundamentally involves socializing. Socializing by its nature involves commingling. Commingling is one the triggers indicating a reportable movement of livestock. Many people will find the registering of their private residence distasteful. The literature is as yet contradictory at what threshold animal movement will need to be reported. The trailering of horses to state camping sites and other events may trigger the need to report upon private excursions. This is inherently an invasion into the private lives of equestrians not affecting other types of livestock. These are important issues we hope the Equine Species Working group will find common sense and practical solutions.

The answers to what impact NAIS will have on private horse keeping will be found as the USDA and CDFA formulate their implementation and set guidelines over the next three years. At this time, the program is voluntary. However, Wisconsin has already mandated premise registration by state law. You should stay informed of any changes here in California and be ready to respond.