LEADING THE WAY WITH NATIONAL ANIMAL ID Morgan County (Colorado) 4-H Livestock Programs 100% USDA/NAIS Compliant August 7, 2006-Brush, CO. In the midst of the ongoing Morgan County Fair (Colorado), routine weigh-ins of 4-H market animals were being conducted. Livestock superintendents, county extension agents, fair board members, parents, and youth exhibitors were all there to assist as usual during the process, but this year was different. All of the 79 market beef animals, 117 market goats, 169 market swine, and 149 market lambs were identified with unique, 15-digit individual animal identification numbers. Morgan County officials and parents elected to use Destron-Fearing's e.Tag™ and Combo e.Tag™, Low Frequency RFID devices, the same devices as recently approved by the USDA for use with the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). By using this technology, not one of the market animals had to be head restrained to go through check-in. The process was so efficient that 149 lambs were weighed and identified by their 15-digit ID within 90 minutes. Not one error occurred, all tags read, and only 1 tag in 149 had to be replaced from the start of the project back in May. All 79 market beef animal IDs were read with 100% accuracy and no tags lost during the project period. In the fall of 2005, Morgan County Extension Agent Marlin Eisenach realized the value of USDA's National Animal Identification System in managing livestock exhibitions, no matter the size, for animal health purposes since livestock exhibitions are high risk events for spreading animal disease. Working with the state veterinarian and university veterinary teaching hospital specialists, he convened educational programs in December of 2005 with fair board members from both Morgan County and surrounding counties, other extension agents, and, importantly, parents and advisors for all of the livestock market projects. By providing information concerning principles of animal infectious disease control and providing examples of diseases that can infect animals and humans, it became apparent that participation in the NAIS was a good idea. To be able to acquire tags in the NAIS program, producers need to have their premises registered. No problem for Morgan County 4-H. Fair board members and parents elected to require it for participation in the 4-H livestock market programs. Every entry in the 2006 Morgan County Fair was accompanied by a premise registration number acquired through the Colorado Department of Agriculture premises registration process. According to Marlin, with over 250 families that routinely participate, not one family was lost from any of the programs by requiring that all exhibitors have their premises registered to participate in the program. Marlin is by no means alone in his efforts. His program and ideas were developed in collaboration with several other county agents in the state including Mick Livingston and Allen Helm from the Golden Plains Area of Colorado counties, Roger Koberstien, fair board member from Phillips County, and others including state extension livestock specialists. Because of their experience and networking regarding youth and adult livestock events in the state, USDA/APHIS provided funding through the Colorado Department of Agriculture to support interested Colorado county agents and state extension specialists, working with the state veterinarian, in developing guidelines and recommendations for managing livestock exhibitions in compliance with NAIS standards. This project is being coordinated with a similar project through the Indiana Board of Animal Health and Purdue University extension colleagues in Indiana. With premises registration and individual animal identification covered, what about animal tracking? Once again, no problem. Every market animal entered will be scanned prior to leaving the fairgrounds and a destination recorded. At that point, Morgan County will have available records if needed for animal disease investigators. As instructions develop from state animal health officials for reporting animal movement activity, Morgan County will be more than ready and able to assist. In attendance for weigh-in was Dr. David Morris, Senior Staff Veterinarian with USDA/APHIS and one of the USDA/NAIS national program facilitators. "Weigh-in at Morgan County was definitely a pleasure to witness. Not only was their chosen technology working to near perfection, any issues were immediately corrected. Most impressive, however, was that implementation of NAIS within their 4-H program was seamless, virtually transparent, and actually increased the "speed of commerce" during weigh-in. Colorado county extension agents and all 4-H families and fair board members of Morgan County Colorado are to be commended for their foresight and informed participation in NAIS. Educating current and future generations of livestock owners regarding the importance of NAIS is fundamental. They are truly national leaders." Further contact information: Marlin Eisenach (970) 542-3543; William Wailes, Colorado State University (970) 491-5390. printer friendly