Livestock ID
It’s understandable that ranchers are concerned about the complexity of developing site–specific quality control plans, the paperwork (or computer work) required to maintain the system, and the need for a third–party audit to verify its effectiveness. More often than not, here and around the country, we see market–driven application of ID systems becoming the rule rather than the exception. Today it’s up to the individual to decide just when and how far to get their traceability oars into the water.
National Animal Identification System
The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is a national program intended to identify specific animals in the United States and record their movement over their life spans. It is being developed by the USDA and state agencies in cooperation with industry to enable 48–hour traceback of the movements of any diseased or exposed animal.
As the NAIS develops, premises identification numbers will be used to identify all places and animals that have potentially been exposed to an animal disease. The process of animal disease surveillance, containment, and eradication may lead to herd tests, holds on cattle movement and sales, or quarantines of property and animals.
Premises registration in Montana is completely voluntary. You are not required to individually identify your calves or cows. Please refer to the Montana Department of Livestock website: (http://www.liv.mt.gov) or the MSU Animal and Ranges Sciences website (http://animalrangeextension.montana.edu/Beef/beef.htm) for more information.
Voluntary Premises Identification
Montana Department of Livestock Voluntary Premises Registration
Similar to a rural 911 address used by first responders to pinpoint the location of an emergency, the premises ID number (PIN) allows animal health officials to quickly locate animals that may be affected by an animal disease event. Knowing where animals are located is the key to rapid, accurate and cost–effective disease response.
To register your premises, print, complete and sign an application today. Mail it to PO Box 202001, Helena, MT 59620–2001 Or fax it to: 406–444–4316. For questions or additional assistance please contact:
Tahnee Szymanski, DVM, Montana Department of Livestock field veterinarian 406–202–0690 or tszymanski@mt.gov or Sherry Rust, Animal ID Program Manager 406–444–9321 or srust@mt.gov.
Montana Beef Quality Assurance,
2116 Broadwater Ave., Suite 307/11
Billings, MT 59102,
406-896-9068,
cpeck@montana.edu
Montana Beef Network,
119 Linfield Hall
Bozeman, MT 59718,
406-994-4323,
mharbac@montana.edu