04/11/06 Important animal ID benchmarks

American Rancher April 11, 2006 The implementation plan for the National Animal Identification System the USDA unveiled last week includes timelines and benchmarks for progress. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns says those benchmarks will be decision points at to whether national animal ID remains voluntary or has to become mandatory. Johanns: "In terms of our benchmarks, as we hit those benchmarks we will evaluate how we are doing and that will really be what drives our next decision as to when, and if, we need to look at an approach that is a mandatory approach. Again, my hope is that the industry responds, sees the competitive issues involved here, they see other countries are moving in this direction." The benchmarks include 25 percent of premises being registered by January of 2007, 70 percent by January of 2008 and 100 percent by January of 2009. Currently only about ten percent of the premises are registered. Also by January of 2008, 40 percent of animals need to be identified. By January of 2009, 100 percent of "new" animals need to be identified and 60 percent of animals less than a year old need to have complete movement data. The goal of the national system is to have 48 hour trace back in the event of a disease outbreak and Johanns says for example that if 50 percent of animals are registered and 50 percent aren't, you don't have an effective system. I'm Bob Hoff.