Michigan Animal Identification System: Update

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Michigan Animal Identification System Update
Version 1.053/22/2007
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Dan Buskirk, PhD, PAS Dept. of Animal
Science Michigan State University
Information prepared by the Michigan RFID
Education Task Force
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Michigan Animal Identification System

• Starting March 1, 2007, cattle, of all ages, must
  be identified with an official radio frequency
  identification (RFID) ear tag prior to movement
  from a Michigan premises

• Metal ear tags will no longer be considered
  official identification for cattle in Michigan

Exemptions 1) Steers or spayed-heifers
originating outside of MI and moving direct
from a terminal feedlot to the harvest
(processing) facility 2) Cattle used for personal
consumption
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Reasons for Implementation of Mandatory Radio
Frequency Identification (RFID)

• Faster animal tracking for disease control and
  eradication programs (currently TB)
• Reduce number of animals impacted by quarantines,
  less intrusion
• May be required by USDA for moving TB zones to
  higher status

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Traceouts from a TB infected herd
TB infected herd
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Recent Traceability Events in MichigansTuberculo
sis (TB) Eradication Program

• Jun 1998 1st cattle herd identified with TB,
  since Michigan obtained TB accredited-free state
  status in 1979
• Oct 2000 Use of individual official
  identification mandated for all cattle movement
  in Michigan
• Nov 2001 Initiated use of radio frequency
  identification (RFID) tags in TB tested cattle
  within Modified Accredited Zone
• Jun 2004 RFID replaced metal tag as the official
  identification for cattle in the Modified
  Accredited Zone
• Mar 2007 RFID will replace metal tag as the
  official identification for cattle in remainder
  of Michigan

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Organizations Supporting the Mandatory Michigan
Animal Identification System

• Michigan Cattlemens Association
• Michigan Farm Bureau
• Michigan Milk Producers Association
• Michigan Pork Producers Association
• MDA TB Advisory Committee
• MDA Livestock Identification Advisory Committee

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Michigan Animal Identification System

• There are 3 parts to the system

i.e. 840 003 000 352 615
i.e. A123R69
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Premises Identification Number
?

• Producers must have premises registered with the
  Michigan Department of Agriculture to order tags
• Operations that have TB tested have already been
  assigned a premises identification number
• To obtain a premises identification number call
  MDA at 866-870-5136, leave your name, address of
  operation, and operation type (i.e. beef, dairy)
• Premises identification numbers are 7-digit
  alpha-numeric example A123R69

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Michigan Premises Registration
?
Mar. 20, 200717,534
National Agriculture Statistics Service estimates
there are 29,011 farms with livestock in Michigan
(14,400 have cattle)
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Individual Animal Identification
?

• Radio frequency identification (RFID) ear tags
• Applied as 2-part tag (requires specific
  applicator)
• Have a unique, unalterable, 15-digit Animal
  Identification Number printed on the front and
  back of tag (e.g. 840 003 000 352 615)
• 15-digit number is also contained in microchip
  inside the tag which can be read by a RFID reader

Note Plastic insert on Allflex Total Tagger
must be removed for RFID tag application.
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Individual Animal Identification
?

• Radio frequency identification (RFID) ear tags

Inside of tag
Microchip with same 15-digit AIN
Coil antenna
Both, front and back of tag show the Animal
Identification Number
Front and back of tags come nested together as
a set
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Individual Animal Identification
?

• Passive RFID tags have no battery or internal
  power supply
• These RFID tags can not store additional
  information besides the Animal Identification
  Number
• These low frequency tags have a relatively short
  read range (i.e. less than 3 feet)
• Producers are not required to electronically
  read the tags

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Individual Animal Identification
?

• RFID ear tags are to be placed in the LEFT ear, ¼
  of the distance from the head
• Properly restrain the animal during tagging!

• left side when viewed from behind

?
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Individual Animal Identification
?

• Animals can be tagged anytime after birth, but
  are not required to be tagged until they leave
  the premises
• It is unlawful to remove an official RFID ear tag
• Cattle that lose RFID ear tags may be re-tagged
• Record new RFID number with previous RFID number
• Keep hand-written or computer copy on file (no
  reporting necessary)
• Do not sell, share or give away tags! This
  complicates traceback, and increases your
  liability
• Official RFID tags take the place of brucellosis
  tags (orange metal tag)

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Individual Animal Identification
?

• Tips to maximize RFID tag retention
• Only apply tag in one of the two recommended
  locations in the ear
• Dip tag in disinfectant before tagging
• Ensure that tag parts have completely seated
  (snapped together)
• Warm tags are more easily applied than
  cold/frozen tags
• Reduce objects in animal environment that may
  snag tag backing
• Minimize exposure to used fencing, machinery,
  etc. in pastures and lots
• Always remove twine from hay bales

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Individual Animal Identification
?

• Order tags through the MDA
• Lansing tag line 866-870-5136 (toll free)
• Atlanta tag line 888-565-8626 (toll free)
• Web michigananimalid.com
• Order tags and equipment through NorthStar
  Cooperative
• Tag line 888-203-3398 (toll free)
• Web northstarcooperative.com

Applicator 20
Tags 2 each
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Individual Animal Identification
?

• Tags are made as ordered (orders take 2-4 wks)
• A bill will be sent separately from the tags
• Will be addressed from Holstein Association USA
• Avoid delays by ordering well before you need the
  tags!

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Individual Animal Identification
?
Number of producers who have ordered tags from
MDA 7,707
Total number of RFID ear tags ordered (with
official 840 country code) 687,779
As of Mar 20, 2007
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Animal Tracking
?

• There is no requirement on behalf of producers to
  electronically read RFID ear tags
• Movement reporting requirements (in addition to
  applicable TB testing and health certificate
  documentation)
• Modified Accredited Zone Infected Zone
• Movement permit is required to move cattle from
  a premises
• Modified Accredited Advanced Zone remainder of
  lower MI and Accredited Free Zone Upper
  Peninsula (Free Zone)
• Movement permit is required to move cattle to any
  other zone(unless moved directly to approved
  processing plant, or through one collection
  point directly to approved processing plant).

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Animal Tracking
?

• It is strongly recommended that all producers
  maintain a record of the date when individual
  animals enter and exit (incl. death) their
  operation along with their RFID number and where
  animal was purchased from or sold to.
• A sample recording sheet is available from the
  task force for use with stickers that accompany
  tags
• If you buy Allflex tags, you can get an
  electronic copy (i.e. Excel file) of the RFID
  numbers at www.allflexlink.comEasiest if you
  have the code from the tag bag

None of thisis required
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Animal Tracking
?

• MDA is identifying cattle as they move through
  Michigan livestock markets and as they enter
  regional processing plants

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Regional Animal Tracking
?
15 Livestock markets with RFID tracking 7 Large
processors with RFID tracking 10 Small
processors sending tags to MDA
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RFID Reads at MI Markets
?
RFID reads from markets at Gaylord, St. Louis,
Clare, Cass City, Battle Creek, Napoleon, and
Manchester, MI
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National Animal Identification System

• The goal of the NAIS is to safeguard U.S. animal
  herd health by
• Establishing a standardized ID system to enhance
  disease surveillance, control and eradication
• Identifying all animals and premises that had
  direct contact with a foreign animal disease
  within 48 hours of discovery
• The NAIS is being instituted on a voluntary basis

• Cattle Bison
• Cervids (deer, elk)
• Sheep Goats
• Swine
• Horses
• Poultry
• Camelids (llamas, alpacas)

Includedin NAIS
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National Animal Identification System

• National Agriculture Statistics Service estimates
  there are 1,438,280 livestock farms in the U.S.

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Additional Uses of RFID - Dairy
Although electronically reading and utilizing
RFID is not required, it may provide management
benefits to some operations

• RFID increases the accuracy and efficiency of
  data entry in herd management software
• RFID reader can interface with personal digital
  assistant (PDA) for data entry at cow-side. Data
  stored on PDA then transferred to farms main
  computer.

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Additional Uses of RFID - Beef
Although electronically reading and utilizing
RFID is not required, it may provide management
benefits to some operations

• RFID compliments and automates electronic
  individual animal record-keeping (cow/calf,
  stocker, feedlot)
• RFID satisfies requirements for unique
  identification needed for age and process
  verification programs

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Take Home Messages

• Unique animal identification is necessary to
  protect Michigan animal agriculture
• All Michigan beef and dairy producers need to
  register their premises
• Cattle must be identified with an official RFID
  ear tag prior to movement from a Michigan
  premises starting March 1, 2007
• Order tags well in advance of when you need them
  Tag Line 866-870-5136

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Resources Available
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• For premises registration, tag orders, and more
  information
• www.michigananimalid.com

Premises/Tag Line 866-870-5136 Questions
517-241-4339
A cooperative educational effort
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Tag ordering schematic
Producer
?
Request tags using tag line
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Tags mailed
?
Sends confirmation postcard
Michigan Department of Agriculture
Manufactures tags in order of request
Billing for tags mailed
?
?
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Allflex
Premises number confirmed and tag order entered
electronically
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National Farm Animal Identification Records
(F.A.I.R.)
Tag order is submitted
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Report AIN assigned to PIN
?
Tag order is submitted
Database
?
Report AIN assigned to PIN
Tags delivered 2 to 3 weeks after request