The Swine ID Implementation Task Force (SIITF) met in Washington, DC on February 9 – 10 to discuss plans to implement an animal identification program in the swine industry. The group is composed of swine farmers, pork producers, veterinarians, and representatives from the National Pork Board (NPB) and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC).
Since 1988, swine producers have been required to identify their animals and track their movements. This capability was instrumental in the successful eradication of Pseudorabies virus from the commercial swine herd. The effectiveness of the existing swine identification system was proven countless times as suspect animals were identified, located and sampled in a very timely manner. The current identification program allowed for the rapid initiation of movement controls, surveillance testing, epidemiological analysis and implementation of disease eradication methodologies.
Swine producers believe that with some minor modifications the existing identification program can achieve the goal of a 48 hour traceback required by the USDA’s National Animal Identification System (NAIS) without adding significant additional costs or undue burden. Implementation of an official swine identification program involves three steps: 1) premises registration, 2) adoption of animal and group/lot identification numbering formats as defined in the NAIS, and 3) the ability to record animal movements in a format that could be reported to state and federal animal health officials if necessary to address an animal or human health issue.
In July, 2005 the Pork Industry Identification Working Group (PIIWG) submitted draft program standards to the USDA specifically detailing how the program would work in the swine industry. Subsequent to this, the SIITF was formed by the NPPC and the NPB to develop strategies to promote the implementation of the proposed program standards throughout the swine industry. The SIITF will address the issue of implementation in phases. The first phase will address the immediate challenge of encouraging swine producers to register their premises. Premises registration is the foundation of the entire NAIS.
As a first step, the Task Force commissioned the development of educational materials aimed at promoting the importance of premises registration. These materials will be distributed to swine producers at state association meetings, Pork Forum, World Pork Expo and as check stuffers for use in mailings to producers. Future phases of the SIITF efforts will address the issues associated with animal and group/lot identification and animal movement tracking as the details of these components are finalized by the USDA.