01/11/05 National Animal ID

Thanks to a one million-dollar grant the Idaho Department of Agriculture and coalition of livestock producers are trying to develop a National Animal Identification System. ISDA's Doctor Debra Lawrence is the state's animal identification coordinator who says the BSE case in Washington State 13 months ago highlights the need for quick, accurate animal identification. LAWRENCE "If they'd been able to trace that cow back to where she came from in 48 hours there would have been a lot less hassle." Doctor Jim England of the University of Idaho is evaluating electronic eartags for cattle as part of what's known as the premises ID, a unique number assigned to a location that has cattle. ENGLAND "But the brand states are in pretty good shape to go along with this premises ID situation because most livestock owners have a brand and that's already on record. We've got right at over 20 thousand brands in Idaho." England says the university has worked with electronic identification tags at the Cummings Research Center at Salmon. They're testing devices on six different ranches this year. England, Lawrence and others will be in Twin Falls later this week to explain to producers the various options under review. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott