It gives you more control over the health of your animals.
We can't predict when a disease outbreak or other animal health event might occur, or how severe it might be if it happens. By getting a premises identification number (PIN) for the location where your animals are kept, you become part of a national animal disease response network. You join industry, State and Federal partners, and producers like yourself - putting you on the frontline of controlling and preventing the spread of animal disease.
It gives you the information you need - when you need it most.
In an animal health emergency, no one can help you protect your animals if they don't know you are there. Opening the lines of communication between animal health officials and producers is critical. Obtaining a PIN ensures that you will be alerted when a disease outbreak or other animal health event might put your animals at risk. You then have the information and assistance you need to take action and protect the health of your animals.
It safeguards you against a slow disease response.
Any producer whose animals have been impacted by disease can attest to the serious losses and hardships that result. When animal health officials know where at-risk animals and locations are, and have accurate, up-to-date contact information for their owners, they can respond quickly and strategically to prevent disease spread. The more quickly and effectively a disease is contained, the less likely it is that the disease will spread to additional locations. The faster the disease response, the faster an animal disease is isolated, the fewer producers impacted - and the sooner life gets back to normal for everyone.
It protects market access and gives you a competitive trade advantage.
A single report of a disease can shut down the movement of animals and call their health into question. This affects every segment of animal agriculture, resulting in lower prices, lost jobs, and decreased incomes. Future competition in today's market-driven economy depends on your ability to maintain consumer confidence and protect the health of your animals. A modern information system helps reassure consumers and trading partners that we are doing everything we can to contain disease spread and protect animal health. Premises information allows us to quickly define which areas of our country are, and are not, affected by a disease outbreak or other animal health event - keeping markets open for unaffected producers and preventing unnecessary movement restrictions.
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