From deep within the inner mechanisms of the National Animal Identification System, commonly known as NAIS, comes a man who has been hands-on almost from the beginning.Dr. John Wiemers of APHIS spoke to some Farm Bureau members in December of 2003 about 20 years of talking about such a program and the establishment of a task force in 2002 charged with putting a plan together.That task force was loaded with heavyweights such as the NCBA, NPB, AFBF NMPF, NIAA and members from more than 30 livestock and meat industry organizations.
Making an early statement that was perhaps more prescient than intended, he told the group, “We’re not talking about country of origin labeling.We’re not talking about full food safety traceability.We’re talking about protecting the national herd.”
Every one of those points grew in importance since that day but rightly belong in other political and scientific arenas.It’s the traceback issue that’s most important, the real key to NAIS becoming a working and workable program.Discovering a health problem and tracing it back to its origin within 48 hours is critical if the U.S. is to retain its place as a major provider of protein resources on the world market.Without it, we’re vulnerable to dozens of nasty scenarios from naturally occurring events to intentionally created crises.
With the history behind NAIS that he’s witnessed, five minutes was time well spent.
Q. Dr. Wiemers, you’ve been working on NAIS almost from the beginning.Give me some perspective – how has the concept changed since the framework for the program was announced by the USDA in 2004?And why has it changed?
A. The National Animal Identification System was initiated several years ago to enhance previously existing disease programs through the establishment of standards that could be used for all state/federal disease programs nationwide.We’ve been very successful in eradicating animal diseases in the United States, brucellosis in cattle for example.Because of this success, fewer animals are now vaccinated or tested for brucellosis and other program diseases, which require individual animal identification, fewer animals are identified. The dramatic reduction in the number of identified animals in recent years impairs our ability to respond quickly and effectively to animal disease events.NAIS can bring back the level of traceability the United States had years ago when a high percentage of cattle were individually identified through disease control programs.
The focus of NAIS is on animals that enter commerce, that is, those animals that move from their farm and ranch to markets and/or locations where they commingle with animals from other premises.This is where the impact of a disease is the greatest, both in terms of value of animals and the potential cost of lost production.
Our overall objective is to establish the infrastructure we need to respond in a timely fashion to an animal disease event.In many cases, we successfully eliminate a disease and conduct a thorough investigation, but this response can take longer than it should. The goal of NAIS is to provide animal health officials the information they need during a disease outbreak on the movement and location of affected animals within 48 hours. This quick response is optimal for efficient and effective disease containment and helps to prevent disease spread.
America’s producers, from owners of large cattle ranches to small dairy herd operators, know that NAIS is not only desirable, it is necessary to limit animal disease outbreaks.USDA and our state partners conduct animal health investigations on a regular basis.For instance, right now, the investigation continues in an effort to limit a bovine tuberculosis outbreak in Eastern New Mexico.
Q. Among the “No NAIS” community there is a shared feeling that ‘voluntary’ is just a euphemism for mandatory at a later date and suggest that the USDA is just shifting mandatory requirements from the federal to the state level.Would you address those concerns which are rampant among small farmstead owners and hobbyists?
A. Misinformation about the effect of NAIS and premises registration on the individual producer has caused widespread concern.The fact is NAIS is voluntary at the Federal level.Some States have made premises registration mandatory and that is their right. We support those decisions based on individual State needs.States base their decisions on animal health priorities and their need to trace animal disease outbreaks.
Producers can choose to participate in one, two, or all three components:premises registration, animal identification and tracing.
Identification of animals in the production chain and ability to trace an animal disease to its source is critical to the health and marketability of U.S. livestock and poultry.Recent animal disease detections, both in the United States and abroad, have highlighted the need for NAIS.
The foundation of NAIS is the first component:premises registration.It’s simple and it’s free. More than 443,000 producers have signed up so far.
I would encourage anyone with concerns about NAIS to read the “Business Plan to Advance Animal Disease Traceability” that was released late last year.That plan prioritizes species and sectors and explains why 48 hour traceback is such an important long term goal. The business plan and a synopsis are available on our website:www.usda.gov/nais.
Q. Let me throw out some fighting words – “I’ll drive every back road to find every backyard flock and tag each chicken.”Notwithstanding that the idea is completely unachievable, is it possible that something even close to that extreme might be tried in the future?
A. The object of NAIS is to have the tools in place to quickly and effectively conduct an animal disease investigation.In the event of an outbreak or event we need to know what animals are affected and where they are located.We need to know that in advance.In the event of a disease outbreak, animal health officials will locate every livestock herd or flock that potentially had contact with affected animals and observe them for the symptoms of the disease in question.
Some producers now believe that under NAIS every animal they own must be identified and that a report must be filed every time they move animals to other premises.This is not the case.In fact, the cost of implementing such an all-encompassing system would outweigh the benefit of combating animal disease.To be effective, producers and animal health officials must work together to prioritize disease control activities.
Many small farmers and others outside the commercial livestock industry never transport animals to premises where they are commingled with animals from other premises.Animal identification, relative to animal disease control programs, may provide little or no benefit in these situations.
Q. While carrying out your NAIS duties, you’ve attended a lot of meetings and spoke at a lot of events.During that time, you’ve undoubtedly gotten into a lot of conversations – pro and con.Would you share what you’re hearing with me?
A. Living in rural Illinois, I talk to producers every day and much of what I hear is positive.Many of them are supportive of NAIS because they know the public is concerned about the safety of American agriculture.I recently asked a local veterinary practitioner how many of his livestock clients had registered their premises, he replied, “All of them.It is what they need to do.It is what we all need to do to protect our livelihoods.”NAIS affords a producer a layer of protection that is unavailable otherwise.
When I speak to those who are against NAIS, I hear different reasons and viewpoints.Though overall, I think everyone agrees that we are committed to controlling animal disease, minimizing losses and protecting the health and the future of American agriculture.A disease outbreak can impact any operation of any size, premises registration can benefit anyone who maintains livestock or poultry—even if it’s just a backyard flock or a couple of riding horses.
Q. Let’s talk about the international perspective.If NAIS is rejected or limited in scope, will it really have a negative effect on U.S. agriculture in world trade?And how far would it have to go for it to be deemed an asset to world trade?
A. Our beef is the best in the world.If you look at the picture that accompanies this article you can tell that I eat it often.It is to America’s benefit to have NAIS.The more producers that register, the safer production agriculture will be in the event of a disease outbreak.Producers registering their premises can be easily located in the event of an animal health emergency.
NAIS is streamlined and eliminates time consuming challenges posed by paper based record keeping systems.By reducing disease response delays, NAIS will cut losses and help retain markets, both foreign and domestic.Rapid disease response means fewer producers impacted by an outbreak and less hardship in affected communities.
As for world trade, if you want to know the impact of a long disease investigation just look at the 2003 discovery of one cow with BSE in Washington State.USDA spent $5 million on the investigation, and the United States lost 80 percent of its’ foreign beef trade. In order to regain access to foreign markets, USDA spent about $189 million on an enhanced BSE surveillance program. The longer we delay full implementation of NAIS the more susceptible we could be to trade restrictions in the event of a significant disease outbreak.
A. From here forward, what’s the working plan to develop NAIS further?
Q. NAIS, when fully implemented, will enable investigators to quickly trace an animal disease, limit its spread and protect producers. The working plan for the next few years is the “Business Plan to Advance Animal Disease Traceability.”Anyone interested in protecting production animal agriculture should read it.
More than 443,000 producers have registered their premises so far nationwide.It’s an important step toward protecting your livestock and your livelihood. The more premises that are registered, the better and more efficient the system becomes in the event of an animal health emergency.We have a long way to go.A large percentage of America’s cattle still don’t have official identification.We need to concentrate on getting that number down.With your help and the assistance of America’s producers we will do it, and we will safeguard the future of American agriculture.