FAQ
Wyoming
Livestock Board
Premises Identification Program
Frequently Asked
Questions
Q. What is the National Animal Identification System (NAIS)?
A. For complete information on NAIS link to the NAIS Overview. Return to Top
Q. What are benefits for producers to participate in the NAIS?
A. This new program will improve current disease eradication and control efforts, protect against widespread foreign and domestic animal disease outbreaks, and provide infrastructure to address threats from introduction of disease.
Producers may also combine the standards defined through the NAIS with their management systems and recording programs. By integrating the necessary recording elements of the NAIS with their own operations, they can increase production efficiency and add value to their animals. Return to Top
Q. What is the difference between a producer and non-producer?
A. The realm of non-producers consist of markets, stock shows, fairs, and other marketing intermediaries. In contrast, a producer is an animal owner Stake holder's must understand which title they fall under so they can properly register for a Wyoming premises identification. Two different applications are used (one for a producer and another for non-producers). Return to Top
Q. How much will the program cost and who will pay for it?
A. Within the last year, the USDA has devoted $18.8 million to the NAIS and the President’s FY 2005 Budget requests an additional $33 million. However, due to the tremendous scope and efforts needed to develop this comprehensive program, the USDA anticipates that the industry and government will share the costs necessary to fully implement the program. Return to Top
Q. Where do producers get premises identification numbers?
A. Applications for premises for both producers and non-producers can be obtained from the WLSB and soon from the county extension offices, farm services, sale barns, vet clinics, and brand inspectors. Following premises registration, producers may contact an animal identification number manager in their area to obtain official animal identification numbers (AIN) tags. Return to Top
Q. Will animal owners need to have a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader?
A. Because the USDA is exploring the possibilities of RFID technology very closely, the WLSB will be employing these identifying devices for their own ID program. Animal owners that use RFID for official identification may not need to have an RFID reader in their possession. A producer may be able record the RFID number before it is applied to an animal without having to use a reader. Return to Top
Q. Who will be responsible for applying identification to animals?
A. Identifying animals will be the responsibility of the originating premises (“premises of birth”) owner if they are not eligible for group lot ID. For animal owners who don’t posses the sufficient equipment for individual identification, “tagging stations” will be available. Tagging stations are fixed locations that have been officially approved by APHIS to apply tags to animals that are required to be identified. Return to Top
A. Animals that never leave a premises do not need to be identified. However, Wyoming encourages animal owners to identify their animals and premises, since many diseases may be spread whether an animal leaves it home premises or not (i.e. West Nile virus, foot-and-mouth disease, vesicular stomatitus, and equine infectious anemia.) Return to Top
Q. If a person only shows and animals or take them to trail rides, do they need to be identified?
A. When people show or commingle their animals with animals from multiple premises their animals need to be identified. Return to Top
A. Is defined as animals having contact or inter-mixing with other animals outside their original herd and/or premises. Return to Top
Q. What data information will be required from the USDA? Who will keep it?
A. The USDA requires the applicant to provide the following premises information:
· Premises identification number; the name of the entity; appropriate contact person; street address/city/state/zip code
· Contact phone number
· Operation Type
· Date the premises number was activated
· Date the premises number was deactivated (if applicable)
· Reason for deactivation (if applicable)
The Wyoming Premises Registration System will first collect and store data from applicants and will then transmit these selected fields into the USDA’s national premises information repository as needed. Return to Top
A. Federal, state, and tribal animal health and public health officials will have certain levels of access to the information provided in the both the Wyoming system and national repository. Wyoming law limits access to any confidential information. Return to Top
A. The NAIS currently is developing plans for aquaculture, camelids (llamas and alpaca), cattle/bison, cervids (deer and elk), equine, goats, poultry, sheep, and swine. Wyoming, however, is only recording the premises and animal identification of bison, cattle, goats, fish, poultry, sheep, swine, and horses. Additionally, information regarding small grains, corn, hay, beans, and sugar beets will also be collected. Return to Top
A. No, a single premises identification number will be used for each location despite the number of species contained within it. Thus, a producer will not have to register separate premises identification numbers for the various species they own. Return to Top
Q. Can animals be identified as a group?
A. Yes, as part of the NAIS plan animal production systems can use group/lot identification in place of an individual animal identification number. To acquire group/lot identification, the producer must prove to the agreement of state animal health officials that group/lot identification and production system records will allow for a 48-hour trace back to the suspected animal and that commingling doesn’t exist. Production records will contain the following information: the date created, number of head, removal date and type (sale, transfers, and death), destination premises, and inventory reconciliation. These records will be kept at the local level for two years after the group “retires” or ends.
The national central database will require a unique group/lot identification number to be associated with the group of animals. The group/lot identification method will be available to all species. Unlike the animal identification number, the group/lot identification number will only be composed of thirteen characters. Return to Top
A. Live animals imported into the United States will require identification levels equivalent to what is required of producers in the United States for interstate movement. Imported animals will be identified by their country of origin and will be tracked the same as domestic animals. The country of origin identification will be considered official in the United States, and the animals will not need to be re-identified. Return to Top
A. As all states are making efforts to comply with the phased-in implementation of the NAIS, the WLSB remains in constant contact with all neighboring states. The WLSB also has close contacts with the other big livestock producing states and discusses plans involving the animal and premises identification state level systems. Only four NAIS software programs are approved by USDA currently and are available for all states. Generally, there is uniformity of the animal identification programs. The NAVE system that the WLSB is planning to adapt already reflects the current partnership between Wyoming and Nebraska. Return to Top
Last Update:01/22/2009