The Minnesota Animal Commission announced that a new USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service official identification rule will be officially implemented on November 5, 2024. The introduction of this rule aims to improve the traceability and disease prevention and control capabilities of livestock by introducing advanced electronic identification (EID) tag technology, namely RFID tags, and further promote the sustainable development of animal husbandry.
It is understood that the implementation background of the new rule stems from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)'s continued attention to improving livestock traceability. In order to prevent the outbreak and spread of animal diseases, APHIS has formulated a series of new regulations requiring the use of RFID tags to mark specific types of cattle. These cattle include unsterilized cattle and bison aged 18 months and above, all dairy cows, and cattle used for exhibitions, rodeos and entertainment activities.
According to the new rule, all cattle within the specified type and age range need to wear an ear tag with a visual identification mark and an electronic RFID chip. These RFID tags are not only visually readable, but more importantly, they can quickly and accurately read animal information electronically. This means that when animals move between farms, processing plants or markets, relevant departments can quickly obtain their identity information for better tracking and management. The use of RFID tags brings many advantages.
First, it improves the efficiency of animal identification and reduces errors and interference in manual data entry. By reading tag information electronically, animal health officials can obtain the required data faster, so as to more effectively monitor and manage the health of livestock.
Second, RFID tags facilitate disease prevention and control. When a disease is discovered, veterinarians and animal health officials can quickly track the whereabouts of infected animals, find the source of the disease, and take effective measures to curb the spread of the disease. This not only reduces the impact of the disease on farms and animals, but also reduces economic losses, helping to maintain the stable development of animal husbandry.
However, the implementation of the new rules also requires farmers to pay attention to some matters. Farmers need to ensure that the RFID tags used meet the approval requirements of APHIS and are worn on cattle at the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner. And the animal information stored in the RFID tags needs to be properly protected to prevent leakage and abuse. In addition, for cattle that already wear official tags with only visual identification, producers may not need to re-tag the animal with electronically readable tags before the effective date of the regulations. However, this transition arrangement may vary by region and specific circumstances, and farmers need to pay close attention to relevant notices and regulations.
The Minnesota Animal Commission said that the implementation of the new rules will help improve the traceability and disease prevention and control capabilities of livestock, and provide strong guarantees for the sustainable development of animal husbandry. At the same time, the commission will also strengthen guidance and training for farmers to ensure that they can adapt to the requirements of the new rules and operate in compliance. Farmers should also actively respond to this initiative, strengthen self-management and supervision, and jointly promote the healthy development of animal husbandry.
