Reprint courtesy of The Smithville Times

By Mark Gwin Editor mgwin@smithvilletimes.com 512-2374655

Thursday, August 16, 2007 Volume 115 Number 33

Animal ID system continues to draw all kinds of attention

Those who stand to be affected by the National Animal Identification
System (NAIS), and particularly those who are against it, haven’t given
up their efforts to educate others about the program.
The Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (FRFA), a non-profit organization
opposed to the program, held a regional meeting in Lockhart Aug. 8
which attracted many speakers – and political candidates.
“This program is a bad idea, and we can’t just hope it goes away,” said
Judith McGeary, executive director of FRFA. “It will take awareness and
action.”
The NAIS is a three-step program that aims to help in the tracking of
diseases among animals and containing any outbreaks.
The first step is premises identification, under which all owners of
animals (exempting dogs and cats) are required to register their
premises and pay a $10 annual fee. Eventually, a fully implemented
program would include the tagging of animals with Animal
Identification Numbers (AIN) and the tracking of all movement of
animals.
The program is proposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture but the
USDA is looking for each state to implement the programs. The Texas
Animal Health Commission was moving toward compulsory premises
registration earlier this year when, amid a public outcry, they tabled
mandatory registration for premises with livestock and poultry.
Elk alone were subject to all three tiers of the NAIS, but TAHC has
proposed a repeal of in-state movement requirements for elk, which had
included mandatory premises and animal identification, and movement
reporting requirements.
“The in-state movement regulations for elk were adopted and enacted in
Texas in January 2006, prior to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
(USDA) commitment that the premises and animal identification was to
remain voluntary,” said Dr. Bob Hillman, TAHC executive director and
Texas’ state veterinarian.
He explained that the TAHC commissioners in early April tabled proposed
premises registration requirements for all premises with livestock or
poultry (except those with elk), but they encourage voluntary
participation.
“Elk producers requested that the rule be rescinded to allow for
voluntary participation, as is the case for other species,” said Hill.
Voluntary participation, not mandatory participation, was also the call
from speakers at the meeting in Lockhart.
“As long as this program remains voluntary, it can be a good thing for
the industry,” said Chuck Kiker, president of the Ranchers-Cattlemen
Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America.
“The TAHC needs to hear our concerns and our ideas to make this a good
program – we need to work with them and not fight against them,” said
Kiker.
Kiker noted that voluntary participation could add value to the product
of livestock owners who participate in the program.
If the program were mandatory, however, there would be no extra value
and ranchers would suffer increased costs for no extra income, said
McGeary.
Though the program is currently voluntary, McGreary said she felt no
certainty that it would remain that way.
“We need to be vigilant and stay involved,” she said.
In Bastrop County, Mike Kelley has been instrumental in combating
mandatory registration. One speaker recognized him as the individual
who filed the open-records request that revealed that TAHC was
providing funding to several organizations to promote the NAIS.
Organizations paid to promote the program include the Texas Cooperative
Extension, Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Texas and Southwestern
Cattle Raisers Association and others.
Those interested in learning more about the NAIS or voluntarily signing
up for the program may do so at www.tahc.state.tx.us.
For those interested in voices of opposition to the plan, visit
www.farmandranchfreedom.org, www.texasanimalhealthcommissionwatch.com
or www.NoNAIS.org.
As of Aug. 1, 18,000 of 200,000 Texas premises had been registered.
Nationally, 282,394 were registered as of July 14, with premises
identification compulsory in Wisconsin and, in September, in Indiana.
Livestock and poultry owners who register their premises provide to the
state veterinarian’s office their name, farm or ranch physical address,
phone number and a list of the species raised on the property. Acreage
or number of animals is not requested.
Voluntary registration is currently free.

Contact US!

Open Forum