Eartags Proposed For Animal Disease Traceability

The proposed rule for a National Animal Disease Traceability System, now under a public comment period, centers, in part, on an official identification number permanently given to an animal or a group of animals. U.S. Department of Agriculture officials say the primary form of I.D. containing this information is expected to be ear tags on animals, similar to those already in use in several aspects of the livestock industry. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Administrator, Gregory Parham,  explains what would constitute an official ear tag for the proposed rule.

“Official ear tags commonly have characteristics such as a uniform ear tag system, the animal identification number or EIN, some have location based numbering systems, or a flock based numbering system and all those things are imprinted on the tag.”

Parham adds, the official ears tags, per the new Animal Disease Traceability Rule, would also include a U.S. shield imprinted on the tag itself.  He says the official tags would be provided at no cost to producers as funds allow.