State Livestock Identification Programs

Updated July 13, 2006

The National Animal Identification System (NAIS)

NAIS consists of three components:

Premises identification
animal identification
animal tracking

NAIS' goal is to have premises identification and animal identification required by January 2008.

All states are currently working on phase one, premises identification/registration. Only a hand full of states have made premises registration mandatory.

Wisconsin
Indiana
Texas (?)

USDA Standard for Premises Identification

USDA standards: a standardized premises registration system that States and Tribes may elect to use. It is a Web-based system maintained at an APHIS facility in Fort Collins, Colo. Some States and Tribes may opt instead to use a system that they developed or that a third party developed. State and Tribal authorities will determine which premises registration systems will be used in their areas.

USDA Standards for premises Identification: a location where animals may commingle (e.g., a ranch, farm, grazing area, livestock market, slaughter establishment, or veterinary clinic) The overall system must allow for the identification of each premises—or location—where animals are born, managed, marketed, or exhibited.

Animals: animals covered: aquaculture, camelids (llamas and alpacas), cattle/bison, cervids (deer and elk), equine, goats, poultry, sheep, and swine.

Alabama

Voluntary:
Fees: none
Agency: Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries.
Citation: H.B 254: Agriculture and Industries Department authorized to develop and implement animal identification system, confidentiality of information collected.
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Dr. Tony Frazier Alabama State Veterinarian, 334-240-7253
Website: http://www.agi.state.al.us/

Alaska

Voluntary :
Fees: No
Agency: Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Environmental health.
Citation: No
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Dr. Robert F. Gerlach Alaska State Veterinarian, 907-761-7255
Website: http://www.state.ak.us/dec/eh/vet/index.htm

Arizona

Voluntary:
Fees: No fees, following the USDA program
Agency: Arizona Department of Agriculture
Citation: S.B. 1103: Stipulates that premises registration data, animal identification data and animal tracking data collected by the Director pursuant to the NAIS are not subject to state public disclosure requirements.
Animals covered: USDA standards: aquaculture, camelids (llamas and alpacas), cattle/bison, cervids (deer and elk), equine, goats, poultry, sheep, and swine.
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Al Davis Project Coordinator, 602-542-0943
Website: http://www.livestocktrust.com/

Arkansas

Voluntary:
Fees: grant from USDA, there is no cost to Arkansas livestock producers to register a premise.
Agency: Arkansas Livestock & Poultry Commission
Citation: No
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: commerce or commingling ? USDA standards
Contact: Phil Wyrick, Executive Director, 501-907-2400
Website: http://www.arlpc.org/

California

Voluntary
Fees: None
Agency: California Department of Food and Agriculture Animal Health Branch
Citation: None
Animals covered: USDA standards.
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Victor J. Velez, MS, 916-654-1264
Website: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/ah/id_info.htm

Colorado

Voluntary
Fees: No
Agency: Colorado Department of Agriculture
Citation: No
Animals covered: track cattle, elk, horses, goats and sheep. USDA standards.
Facilities: Each farmer, rancher, sale barn and feedlot should apply for a Premises Registration Number. USDA standards.
Contact: Dr. Wayne Cunningham, 303-239-4162
Website: http://www.ag.state.co.us/animals/Animal%20ID/AnimalIDhome.html

Connecticut

Voluntary:
Fees: None
Agency: Connecticut Department of Agriculture
Citation: none
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Dr. Mary Lis, 860-713-2505
Website: http://www.ct.gov/doag

Delaware

Voluntary:
Fees: No
Agency: Delaware Department of Agriculture
Citation: None
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Robert Moore, 302-739-4811
Website:

Florida

Voluntary: yes
Fees: No
Agency: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Animal Industry
Citation: No current legislation or laws on the books.
Animals covered: USDA standards. However not happy food rabbit was not included on the USDA list.
Facilities: USDA standards.
Contact: Dr. G. Ashby Green, 850-410-0940
Website: http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/ai/index.html/

Georgia

Voluntary
Fees: None
Agency: Georgia Department of Agriculture
Citation: None
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Dr. Black, 404-656-3671
Website: http://www.agr.state.ga.us/

Hawaii

Voluntary
Fees: none
Agency: Hawaii Department of Agriculture Animal Industry Division
Citation: None
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Dr. Huan, 808-483-7103
Website:

Idaho

Voluntary:
Fees: No,
Agency: Idaho State Department of Agriculture Division of Animal Industries
Citation: Title 25, Chapter 2, Section 207B Identification of Livestock, Poultry or Fish -- Rules for Disease Control.
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standard
Contact: Dr. Marilyn Simunich, (208) 332-8540
Website:http://idahoag.us/Categories/Animals/animalidentification/indexanimalidentificationmain.php

Illinois

Voluntary
Fees: None
Agency: Illinois Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Health
Citation: none
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Jim Kunkle, 217-785-4740
Website: http://www.agr.state.il.us/premiseid

Indiana

Mandatory premises registration starting September 2006
Fees: None
Agency: Indiana State Board of Animal Health
Citation: Board is giving authority to pass regulation:
Animals covered: Indiana ’s rule includes mandatory registration for cattle/bison, cervids, swine, sheep and goats. Poultry and aquaculture are also part of Indiana ’s plan. Although it is not mandatory, equine and camelids may be registered voluntarily.
Facilities: In Indiana , every animal site that has a unique 911 or postal address should have its own premise ID. Different numbers should also be issued for sites not contiguous within an operation. (Land separated by only a county road may be considered contiguous.) Facilities for animals at different stages of production (for example, calves, heifers, milking cows, etc.) may be one premise, if all are on the same piece of contiguous land.
Contact: 317 227-0300
Website: http://www.boah.in.gov/

Iowa

Voluntary: yes
Fees: None
Agency: Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Animal Industry
Citation: None
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: A premises is defined as any geographically unique location in which agricultural animals are raised, held, or boarded. (USDA standards)
Contact: Steve White 888.778.7675
Website: http://www.agriculture.state.ia.us/

Kansas

Voluntary
Fees: none
Agency: Kansas Animal Health Department Livestock Commissioner
Citation: none
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: George Teagarden, 785-296-2326
Website: http://www.accesskansas.org/kahd

Kentucky

Voluntary: Yes
Fees: None
Agency: Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Citation: H.B 327 : the board shall not release any records, data, or information collected, recorded, or otherwise, deemed confidential for the purposes of the national animal identification system.
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: A premises is the geographically unique location in which agricultural animals are raised, held or boarded. This includes farms, ranches, feed yards, auction barns, and fair sites. USDA standards
Contact: Dr. Robert C. Stout, 502-564-3956
Website: http://www.kyagr.com/state_vet/ah/index.htm

Louisiana

Voluntary
Fees: none
Agency: Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Office of Animal Health Services
Citation: none
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Dr. M.A. Littlefield-Chabaud, (888) 773-6489
Website: http://www.ldaf.state.la.us/

Maine

Voluntary
Fees: None
Agency: Maine Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health & Industry
Citation: H.B. 1293: statute implement the program.
Animals covered: USDA standards: Maine will require identification for all types of food animals, but for now the emphasis is on beef and dairy cattle
Facilities: Premises includes farms and hobby farms; veterinary clinics; stables; livestock markets; livestock trucker and dealer premises where animals are kept; slaughter, rendering and dead animal plants; livestock exhibitions; and any other location where livestock is kept.
Contact: Judy Perry, 207-287-4507
Website: http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/idme/

Maryland

Voluntary: yes
Fees: None
Agency: Maryland Department of Agriculture
Citation: To protect the confidentiality of animal producers, the General Assembly passed and the Governor signed into law House Bill 104 during the 2005 legislative session. This bill becomes effective October 1, 2005. This bill amends Agriculture Article, §3-101, Annotated Code of MD.
Animals covered: Cattle, Bison, swine, goats sheep poultry, llamas, alpacas, deer and elk
Facilities: farms, clinics, exhibitions, laboratories, markets, collection points, slaughter plants, quarantine facilities, and port of entries.
Contact: Dr. Thomas Jacobs, 410-841-5810
Website: http://www.mda.state.md.us/animal_health/

Massachusetts

Voluntary
Fees: none
Agency: Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
Citation: ??
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Eric Tait,
Website:

Michigan

Voluntary
Fees: none
Agency: Michigan Department of Agriculture
Citation: none
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Kevin Kirk, 517-373-1077
Website: http://www.bah.state.mn.us/index/nais/nais.htm

Minnesota

Voluntary: yes
Fees: None
Agency: Minnesota Board of Animal Health
Citation: Chapter 13.643 of the Minnesota Statutes subdivision 6. statute concerning confidentiality
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: 651-201-6816
Website: http://www.bah.state.mn.us/index/nais/nais.htm

Mississippi

Voluntary : yes
Fees: None
Agency: Mississippi Department of Agriculture
Citation: None
Animals covered: Focusing on Beef, however following USDA
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Dr. James Watson, 601-359-1170
Website: http://www.mbah.state.ms.us/

Missouri

Voluntary:
Fees: None
Agency: Missouri Department of Agriculture, Animal Health Division
Citation: None
Animals covered: USDA Standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Dr. Steven Goff, 573-751-2540
Website: http://www.mda.state.mo.us/animalID/index.html

Montana

Voluntary
Fees: none
Agency: Montana Department of Livestock
Citation: none
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: A premises is defined as a location operated by an entity that participates in food animal production and/or commerce that is, in the judgment of the State Animal Health Official or Area Veterinarian in Charge, epidemiologically and/or geographically distinct from other livestock production units.
Contact: Marc Bridges, 406-444-7323
Website: http://www.discoveringmontana.com/liv/animalhealth/NAIS/NAIS.asp

Nebraska

Voluntary
Fees: none
Agency: Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Industry
Citation: LB 531: authorize the Department of Agriculture to develop and implement a national animal identification system, including premises registration. LB 531 does not make animal identification mandatory; it is voluntary under the bill. Although the Department of Agriculture already has a voluntary Premises Identification program, LB 531 codifies specific safeguards for voluntary providers of information. The information provided in this system will not be subject to public inspection, with two exceptions: when the provider of the information authorizes disclosure, or when disclosure is necessary to carry out disease surveillance or epidemiological investigation.
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact:
Website: http://www.animalid.us/

Nevada

Voluntary or Mandatory:
Fees: None
Agency: Nevada Department of Agriculture
Citation: None
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact:
Website:

New Hampshire

Voluntary:
Fees: None
Agency: New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food
Citation: HB 1316: information collected will be confidential
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Dr. Stephen K. Crawford, 603-271-2404
Website: http://agriculture.nh.gov/about/animal_industry.htm

New Jersey

Voluntary or Mandatory:
Fees:
Agency: New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health
Citation:
Animals covered:
Facilities:
Contact: Dr. Sebastian Reist
Website: http://www.state.nj.us/agriculture/animal.htm

New Mexico

Voluntary or Mandatory:
Fees: none
Agency: New Mexico Livestock Board
Citation: none
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Dr. John Romero, 505-841-6161
Website: http://www.livestocktrust.com/

New York

Voluntary
Fees: none
Agency: State of New York Department of Agriculture and Markets, Division of Animal Industry
Citation: none
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Dr. George Merrill, 518-457-3502
Website: http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/AI/AIHome.html

North Carolina

Voluntary
Fees: None
Agency: North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Citation: none
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Mary Ann T. McBride, DVM, MS, 919-733-7601
Website:

North Dakota

Voluntary
Fees: none
Agency: State Board of Animal Health, North Dakota Department of Agriculture
Citation: none
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Dr. Jim Clement, 701-328-2655
Website: http://www.agdepartment.com/Programs/Livestock/BOAH/BOAH.html

Ohio

Voluntary
Fees: none
Agency: Ohio Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Industry
Citation: none
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Gary Wilson, 614-728-6220
Website: http://www.ohioanimalid.com/

Oklahoma

Voluntary
Fees: none
Agency: Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry
Citation: none
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards.
Contact: Ms. Vicki Ernsting, 405-522-6131
Website: http://www.oda.state.ok.us/ais-naishome.htm

Oregon

Voluntary:
Fees: none
Agency: Oregon Department of Agriculture
Citation: none
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Dr. Don Hansen, 503-986-4680
Website: http://egov.oregon.gov/ODA/AHID/animal_health/national_id.shtml

Pennsylvania

Voluntary: Currently voluntary, however SB 865 may make premise registration mandatory. The Bill is currently in committee.
Fees: None
Agency: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Citation: SB 865: An Act amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for definitions; and providing for registration of premises upon which domestic animals are kept.
Animals covered: USDA Standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Ronald C. Miller, 717-783-9550
Website: http://www.animalhealth.state.pa.us/

Rhode Island

Voluntary
Fees: none
Agency: Rhode Island Department of Environmental, Management Division of Agriculture
Citation: none
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Dr. Christopher H. Hannafin, 401-222-2781
Website:

South Carolina

Voluntary
Fees: none
Agency: Animal Health Programs, Clemson University
Citation: none
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Dr. Boyd H. Parr, 803- 788-2260 Ext. 231
Website: http://www.clemson.edu/LPH

South Dakota

Voluntary
Fees: None
Agency: South Dakota Animal Industry Board
Citation: none
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards, however Anyone who owns or is responsible for livestock are encouraged to register. Whether large or small, farm or ranch, production site, feed yard, livestock market, or processing plant, if you are involved in the livestock industry and are responsible for the handling, care, and movement of animals you are asked to register your premises.
Contact: Dr. Sam D. Holland, (605) 773-3321
Website: http://www.state.sd.us/aib/

Tennessee

Voluntary
Fees: None
Agency: Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Ellington Agriculture Center
Citation: none
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Dr. Ron Wilson, 615-837-5120
Website:

Texas

Voluntary or Mandatory: TAHC commissioners, at their February 16, 2006, meeting postponed taking action on proposed premises registration regulations that would make premises registration compulsory July 1, 2006
Fees: The proposed regulations call for premises registration to be free in Texas through June 30, 2006. The registration will be due for a two-year renewal on July 1, 2008, at which time a $10 per year fee will be charged. The fee is to be paid biennially, so at renewal, the registrant would submit $20.
Agency: Texas Animal Health Commission
Citation: HB 1361: was passed and signed into law, authorizing the TAHC to develop and implement an animal identification system consistent with the National Animal Identification System (NAIS)
Animals covered: USDA standards.
Facilities: physical locations where livestock, exotic livestock, domestic fowl, and exotic fowl are held, managed or handled. Premises can include farms or ranches, feedlots, veterinary offices, arenas, livestock show grounds, rendering facilities, and other facilities, as addressed in the TAHC regulations
Contact: Dr. Bob Hillman, 512-719-0700
Website: http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/

Utah

Voluntary
Fees: None
Agency: Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Livestock Identification Bureau
Citation: H.B. 211: Brand inspection amendments amends the Livestock Brand and Anti-theft Act..
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Terry Menlove, 801-538-7166
Website: http://ag.utah.gov/

Vermont

Voluntary
Fees: none
Agency: Vermont Agency of Agriculture
Citation: none
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Dr. Kerry A. Rood, 802-828-2421
Website: http://www.vermontagriculture.com/animal.htm

Virginia

Voluntary : yes
Fees: None
Agency: Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Citation: None
Animals covered: USDA standards
Facilities: USDA standards
Contact: Dr. David Cardin, 804-692-0601
Website: http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/animals/index.html

Washington

Voluntary: Yes
Fees: None
Agency: Washington State Department of Agriculture
Citation: WA S.B. 6375 : Creating an advisory committee to evaluate animal identification programs..
Animals covered: USDA standards.
Facilities: A "premise" is an identifiable physical location that, in the judgment of the State Animal Health Official or Area Veterinarian in Charge, and when appropriate in consultation with the affected producer, represents a unique and describable geographic entity where activity affecting the health and/or traceability of animals may occur
Contact: Christine Spaulding, (360) 725-5493
Website: http://agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/Animal_Premise/default.htm

West Virginia

Voluntary : yes
Fees: None
Agency: West Virginia Dept of Agriculture, Animal Health Division
Citation: None
Animals covered: cattle, swine, sheep, goats, horses, poultry, bison, deer, elk, llamas and alpacas. (USDA standards)
Facilities: Farms and all producers of livestock. USDA standards
Contact: Melissa Garrett, 304-558-2214
Website: http://www.wvagriculture.org/

Wisconsin

Mandatory: to register premises
Fees: yes/no?
Agency: Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Citation: * W.S.A 95.51
Animals Covered: "livestock includes cattle and other bovine animals, swine, poultry, sheep, goats, horses and other equine animals, farm-raised deer and other cervids, bison, llamas and alpacas.
Facilities: premises includes farms and hobby farms; veterinary clinics; stables; animal markets, animal trucker and dealer premises where animals are kept; slaughter, rendering and dead animal plants; livestock exhibitions; and any other location where livestock is kept.
Contact: Paul McGraw, 608/224-4884
Website: http://www.datcp.state.wi.us/ah/agriculture/animals/premises/premises_registration.jsp

Wyoming

Voluntary

Fees: None right now
Agency: Wyoming Livestock Board
Citation: H.B 0207: Confidentiality of livestock premises and Identification records; penalties.
Animals covered: USDA standards: aquaculture, camelids (llamas and alpaca), cattle/bison, cervids (deer and elk), equine, goats, poultry, sheep, and swine. Wyoming, however, is only recording the premises and animal identification of bison, cattle, goats, fish, poultry, sheep, swine, and horses. Additionally, information regarding small grains, corn, hay, beans, and sugar beets will also be collected.
Facilities: producer (farms, ranch ect.) and non producer (markets, stock shows, fairs, and other marketing intermediaries) Generally follows USDA guidelines.
Contact: Lee Romsa, 307-777-6443
Website: http://wlsb.state.wy.us/brands/Premises/FAQ.htm#17

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