Usda Awards $11.64 Million For A National Animal Identification System
A total of $11.64 million to advance the national animal identification initiative for all U.S. livestock and poultry animals has been awarded to 29 state and tribal projects by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will distribute the funds through 29 cooperative agreements. States and tribes can use the funds to register premises through a standardized system provided by APHIS or through other systems that comply with NAIS data standards. Besides registering premises and establishing necessary data transfer procedures, many states and tribes will also conduct field trials or research in order to test and fine-tune ID technologies and collect animal movement data.
State and tribal plans include collecting intra- and interstate animal movement records electronically; integrating data collection technologies at livestock marketing facilities and processing plants; tracking livestock imported from other countries; and electronically collecting animal movement data as livestock are loaded on and off trucks and trailers at their ship-from and ship-to locations.
APHIS received more than 40 applications for animal identification cooperative agreement funding. Selections were based on specific criteria, including: broad participation of stakeholders; inclusion of multiple species for either premises or animal identification projects; involvement of multiple states and/or tribes; clearly defined objectives, including target dates for accomplishing certain activities; a feasible communications plan; a well-defined budget; and the implementation of a premises identification system that met national data standards. Applications that reflected significant cost-sharing, including third-party in-kind contributions, also received priority. Including the cost-sharing of state and tribal governments and industry, the total investment in these NAIS cooperative agreements is more than $16 million.
The Department’s ultimate goal for the NAIS is to gain the ability to identify all animals and premises that have had direct contact with a foreign animal disease or disease of concern within 48 hours of discovery.