RESULTS
Results of the Survey on Camelid Identification: conducted February 7 – March 11, 2006
Survey
Responses (N):
Partials - 136 Completes - 1620 Total - 1756
Note: not all respondents answered all the questions; several questions
allowed multiple responses.
Part I. Current Methods of Identification
The USDA has expressed a willingness to consider incorporating currently
used methods of permanent identification into the NAIS if that is appropriate
and/or feasible.
1. What type(s) of camelid do you own? Select ALL that apply.
| Llama | 789 |
| Alpaca | 1270 |
| Guanaco | 6 |
| Vicuna | 1 |
| Crossbreed | 13 |
| Bactrian Camel | 6 |
| Dromedary Camel | 18 |
|
total
responses
|
2103 |
2. What is the total number of camelids of all types that you currently own?
| 1-5 camelids | 277 - 16% |
| 6-10 camelids | 375 - 22% |
| 11-20 camelids | 512 - 30% |
| 21-50 camelids | 412 - 24% |
| 51-100 camelids | 101 - 6% |
| 101 or more camelids | 41 - 2% |
|
total
responses
|
1718 |
3. Which of the following methods of permanent identification are CURRENTLY present in or on any of your camelids? Select ALL that apply.
| Implanted Microchip | 1337 - 67.5% |
| Ear Tag of any type | 227 - 11.5% |
| Tattoo | 68 - 3.5% |
| None of the above is currently present in or on any of my camelids | 348 - 17.5% |
|
total
responses
|
1980 |
4. If any
of your camelids CURRENTLY have a microchip, where were they implanted?
Refer to the photograph for possible locations. Select ALL that apply.
| None of my camelids currently have an implanted microchip | 362 - 18% |
| Base of the left ear | 1035 - 51% |
| Base of the right ear | 206 – 10% |
| Shoulder | 99 - 5% |
| Axillary space | 5 - .25% |
| Base of the tail | 116 - 5.7% |
| Rump | 47 - 2.3% |
| Hip | 30 - 1.5% |
| Microchip location unknown | 123 - 6% |
|
total
responses
|
2023 |
5. If any of your camelids CURRENTLY have an ear tag of any type, in which ear is the tag located? Select ALL that apply.
| None of my camelids currently have an ear tag | 1354 - 78% |
| Left ear | 255 - 15% |
| Right ear | 137 - 7% |
|
total
responses
|
1746 |
6. If any of your camelids CURRENTLY have a tattoo, where were they tattooed? Select ALL that apply.
| None of my camelids currently have a tattoo | 1609 - 93% |
| Left ear | 56 - 3.25% |
| Right ear | 38 - 2% |
| Upper lip | 5 - .3% |
| Lower lip | 5 - .3% |
| Other (not listed) | 8 - .5% |
|
total
responses
|
1721 |
Part II. Preferred Identification Method for Use in the NAIS
The USDA has requested that each working group select ONE method of
permanent identification to be applied at a single location on the animal
for identification of their species for use in the NAIS.
7. Which SINGLE method would you prefer to use for camelid identification
in the NAIS? Select ONE method.
| Implanted microchip | 1569 - 93% |
| RFID Ear Tag (an ear tag with an embedded microchip containing the same ID number as is visible externally on the tag) | 54 - 3% |
| Tattoo | 59 - 4% |
|
total
responses
|
1682 |
Please
refer to the locations shown in the photograph above question 4 for
answering the following question.
8. According to ARI and ILR records, a majority of microchips currently
present in alpacas and llamas are located at the base of an ear or the
base of the tail. If implanted microchips were to be selected for camelid
identification in the NAIS, which of the commonly used locations would
you prefer for implantation? Select ONE location.
| I prefer not to use this method of ID | 67 - 4% |
| Base of the right ear | 314 - 19% |
| Base of the left ear | 956 - 57% |
| Right side of the base of the tail | 145 - 9% |
| Left side of the base of the tail | 86 - 5% |
| Other (see breakdown in table below) | 105 - 6% |
|
total
responses
|
1673 |
OTHER (see photograph for location terminology) :
| Shoulder | 55 |
| Axillary space | 8 |
| No Preference/Opinion | 6 |
| Base of either ear or in between ears | 5 |
| Rump | 5 |
| Hip | 3 |
| Between shoulder blades/between shoulders | 2 |
| Base of tail | 2 |
| Base of neck | 2 |
| Will not participate in the NAIS | 2 |
| Back of head | 1 |
| Right Para Lumbar Fossa | 1 |
| Withers | 1 |
| Middle of back | 1 |
| Midpoint left neck | 1 |
| Neck | 1 |
| Safest location | 1 |
| Site not to interfere with injections | 1 |
9. If RFID ear tags were to be selected for camelid identification in the NAIS, which location would you prefer?
| I prefer not to use this method of ID | 1383 - 83% |
| Left ear | 184 - 11% |
| Right ear | 100 - 6% |
|
total
responses
|
1667 |
10. If tattoos were to be selected for camelid identification in the NAIS, which location would you prefer?
| I prefer not to use this method of ID | 1442 - 87% |
| Inside left ear | 122 - 7% |
| Inside right ear | 74 - 4% |
| Inside lower lip | 28 - 2% |
|
total
responses
|
1666 |
11. If participation in the NAIS becomes mandatory and permanent ELECTRONIC identification is required, which SINGLE method of electronic identification would you prefer?
| Implanted microchip | 1587 - 95% |
| RFID ear tag | 75 - 5% |
|
total
responses
|
1662 |
Part
III. Preferences for Tracking Animal Movements
In the original NAIS plan the USDA was to maintain one database that
would track all animal movements. However, the USDA is now considering
a plan that would utilize multiple state and private databases to track
animal movements and producers would have to pay for their services.
Subject to USDA approval, the entities that could potentially provide
movement tracking services include state animal health agencies, breed
registries, breed associations, show associations and numerous commercial
enterprises.
12. Which of the following statements best characterizes your preference
for tracking camelid movements?
| I would prefer to have a single entity track movements for all camelid species. | 343 - 21% |
| I would prefer to have a different entity track movements for each species of camelid. For example, one entity would track alpacas and one would track llamas, etc. | 334 - 20% |
| I would prefer to personally choose the entity or entities for tracking movements of my own camelids from a list of USDA-approved entities. | 157 - 9% |
| I need more information before I can indicate my preference. | 824 - 50% |
|
total
responses
|
1658 |
13. Would you be interested in having the USDA-approved entity that tracks your camelid movements also record your herd management information (vaccination and health records, breeding records, etc.) for an additional fee? Such information would remain confidential and is NOT reportable to any government agency.
| Yes | 155 - 9% |
| No | 1501 - 91% |
|
total
responses
|
1656 |
14. What amount would you be willing to pay for tracking an animal's movement over its lifetime?
| Less than $1.00 per animal | 548 - 33% |
| $1.00 - $5.00 per animal | 382 - 23% |
| $5.01 - $10.00 per animal | 190 - 11% |
| $10.01 - $20.00 per animal | 108 - 7% |
| More than $20.00 per animal | 23 - 1% |
| No opinion | 403 - 24% |
|
total
responses
|
1654 |
15. In which time zone do you live?
| Eastern | 693 - 42% |
| Central | 417 - 25% |
| Mountain | 187 - 11% |
| Pacific | 347 - 21% |
| Alaskan | 7 - .45% |
| Hawaiian | 1 - .06% |
|
total
responses
|
1652 |