Can you explain a Premise ID and the NATIONAL ANIMAL INDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (NAIS)?

Question

No opinion on NAIS, please - just an explanation in your own words (grammar / spelling with also be taken into consideration when selecting the best answer)

I do know (and fully comprehend) the details, but would like to verify qualification levels of people answering questions in the Pet section. This can best be accomplished by letting the "experts" explain something in their own words.

Answer 1

There are benefits to this program. The main focus of the program when fully released in 2009 will be to help establish disease control and hold parties accountable for the livestock they are producing. Not only that, but the United States is far behind many other countries in Animal ID and thus many countries, including Japan, are less likely or have already banned the importation of products into their countries. The reason many livestock producers do not favor this plan is that the cost would currently be taken on by the producer. The program is currently voluntary with the hopes that most producers will not have to be forced to use this system. The first step in the process is registering your farm and then you would register individual animals. There are a variety of methods of identifying your livestock with most cattle using eartags and some other species using implants.

USDA states, "NAIS is a cooperative State-Federal-industry partnership to standardize and expand animal identification programs and practices to all livestock species and poultry. NAIS is being developed through the integration of three components—premises identification, animal identification, and animal tracking. The long-term goal of the NAIS is to provide animal health officials with the capability to identify all livestock and premises that have had direct contact with a disease of concern within 48 hours after discovery."

Answer 2

The basic idea is each animal can be tracked for life. Through tracking they can tell where an individual animal came from - who owns it, where it belongs, if it's sold who to. There is much disagreement - some feeling that the government has no right to know when you go trail riding to a neighbor's; that taking an animal to emergency vet care without a permit will mean getting in trouble and some just that the government doesn't belong in our pastures. Others feel it's good because in case of a disease outbreak they can tell where other herds/flocks are.

Answer 3

I'm not sure who made you the quality police (though I agree we need some), or how a lack of a deep understanding of NAIS means someone's not qualified to answer animal questions.

But, yes, it is basically the concept that every animal can be tracked everywhere through every stage of life. All animals will have to be registered through them and IDed (microchips, I think) at the owner's expense. Any time an animal leaves the property, is sold, bought, bred, escapes, or dies, papers must be filed and sent in to the overseeing department.

The original goal of this proposed act is to control the spread of animal bourne diseases like BSE, "mad cow disease".

Answer 4

http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/index.shtml
Please click the above link to know in detail.