Identification and Traceability of Cattle Outside North America

1
Identification and Traceability of Cattle Outside
North America

• Mitch Bowling
• March 13, 2007

2
Purpose

• Demonstrate implementation of bovine animal
  identification and traceability systems in
  countries outside North America
• Premises Identification
• Animal Identification Methods
• Animal Movement Records
• Animal Termination Records

3
Introduction

• Marking animals for means of identification of
  ownership dates back 3,800 years to The Code of
  Hammurabi
• Hot iron branding was used by the Chinese Postal
  Service, Greek Armies, and Teutonic Knights to
  identify high-value animals such as horses
• Animal identification for disease monitoring
  began in the 17th century

4
Methods of Animal Identification

• Mechanical methods
• Tagging
• Branding
• Tattooing
• Electronic Methods
• Radio Frequency Identification Tags
• Ruminal Boluses
• Injectable Transponders
• Ear Tags
• Biometric Methods
• Nose Prints
• DNA Profiling
• Iris Scanning
• Retinal Scanning

5
World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)
Definitions

• Animal Identification- the combination and
  linking of the identification and registration of
  an animal individually, with a unique identifier,
  or collectively by its epidemiological unit or
  group, with a unique group identifier.
• Animal Traceability- the ability to follow an
  animal or group of animals during all stages of
  life.
• Animal Identification System- the inclusion and
  linking of components such as identification of
  establishments/owners, the person(s) responsible
  for the animals, movements and other records with
  animal identification.

6
European Union

• Bovine identification has been mandatory since
  2000
• Premises are identified by a five-digit Herd
  Identification Number
• Individual animals are identified using 2 ear
  tags
• Must be applied within 20 days of birth or before
  first transportation

7
European Union

• At birth, producers are issued a passport that is
  used to track movements between premises
• Producers must also keep registries of dates
  animals were on their premises
• Slaughter facilities update passports and submit
  them to government sources

8
Animal Traceability in the United Kingdom
9
European Union Product Labels
10
Australian National Livestock Identification
System

• Became Mandatory on July 1, 2005
• Premises are identified by an eight-digit
  property identification code
• Animals are identified individually using an RFID
  ear tag in the ear or Rumen Bolus
• Animal movements are recorded in the NLIS
  database
• Slaughter facilities report animal arrivals to
  NLIS database
• In specific cases, producers can obtain carcass
  information

11
New Zealand

• 2 current systems of bovine identification and
  tracking
• Management Information System for Dairy
  Administration
• National Bovine Tuberculosis Identification
  Program
• Individual bovine animals must be identified
  within 30 days of birth or before they are
  transported
• Animals are identified with an ear tag in each
  ear
• Animal movement data is collected using an Animal
  Status Declaration Form

12
Namibia--Farm Assured Namibian Meat Scheme

• Implemented in 1999 to maintain EU export
  approval
• Hot iron brands are used to identify ownership of
  cattle (No Premises Identification)
• Individual bovine animals are identified using
  the EU system2 ear tags with individual animal
  identification numbers and bar codes for
  electronic tracking
• Animal movements are tracked by exit and arrival
  registers, including at slaughter

13
Botswana--Livestock Identification Trace Back
System

• Implemented in 2001 in order to maintain EU
  export status
• Individual animals are identified with
  RFID-embedded rumen boluses
• Aids in prevention of cattle rustling
• Animal movements are tracked by a digital
  movement permit issued by the local extension
  officer
• Termination Records?
• 1.8 Million of the 3.0 million cattle in
  Botswana were identified and traced in 2005
• Mandatory or voluntary?

14
Japan

• Mandatory bovine identification and tracing began
  in 2003
• Individual animals are identified using two ear
  tags with ten-digit individual animal
  identification numbers
• Movement records are kept on incoming and
  outgoing cattle
• Slaughter facilities report animal deaths and
  carcass data to the central database
• Transparent Traceability System. Consumers can
  access
• Name and address of producer
• Breed of animal
• Sex of animal
• Unique identification number
• Slaughter date and facility

15
South Korea Beef Traceability System

• Initiated in 2004 and voluntary until 2009
• Individual animals must be identified within two
  weeks of birth with ear tags in each ear
• Movement records, both onto and off of properties
  are kept in a central database
• Carcass data is recorded at slaughter
• Consumers can access traceability information via
  the internet

16
Brazilian System of Identification and
Certification of Origin of Bovine and Buffalo

• Created in 2001
• Not mandatory
• Premises must be registered to participate in
  SISBOV
• Individual animals must be identified but no
  specific method is required
• Animal movements are tracked through the SISBOV
  database
• Animal deaths are entered into the SISBOV
  database by the witness of the death

17
Uruguay National Livestock Information System

• Individual animals must be identified before 6
  months of age or before they are transported off
  of their property of birth
• Animals are identified with an ear tag in one
  ear and an RFID tag either in the other ear or
  embedded in a rumen bolus
• Animal movements onto and off of properties are
  reported to the central database
• Producers commonly hire an operator to process
  animal movement information
• Termination records are reported to the central
  database by government employees

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Conclusion/Implications

• Methods of animal identification and traceability
  differs all over the world
• Reasons for animal identification and
  traceability include
• Disease Monitoring
• Public Health
• Consumer Rights
• Export Status

• There are four components that are essential for
  whole of life traceability of cattle
• Individual animal identification from birth
  through slaughter and possibly to consumers
• Animal movement records
• Animal termination records
• A central database

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QUESTIONS?