Camelid Identification Working Group (CWG)

WHY ID CAMELIDS?

Llamas Participating In The 2005 Llama Futurity Show And Sale Must Be Microchipped (download and print)

Missouri is one of the first states requiring permanent electronic identification for camelids entering the state. Dr. Kristy Brown has written a great article for the newsletter explaining why we are being asked to comply:

National Animal Identification System: Why It Is Important To Our Industry
Kristy J. Brown, D.V.M.
Leon Valley Veterinary Services, Sparta, WI

The Present: Everyone has heard a lot recently about the "Mad Cow Disease" (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) diagnosed in a couple dairy cattle in the western states. The cattle were traced back to a herd of origin in Canada as part of a group imported to the USA. Weeks were spent trying to track down the balance of the imported herd. Because of this episode, the government has stepped up the efforts for a National Animal Identification Program that when fully implemented, would facilitate trace back and locating animals within 48 hours of a disease outbreak.

This animal tracking idea is not new and has been implemented already at various levels. One of the most common programs that we have all dealt with is the "health certificate" to cross state lines (interstate movement) or occasionally, to attend events or move within the state (intra-state movement). Now, a lot of my customers tell me health certificates are just veterinarians trying to make money, but let me tell you, this is not the case. Veterinarians go through additional training called "accreditation" that allows us to perform regulatory testing (Coggins tests in horses, TB testing), writing health certificates and other disease monitoring for their state and the federal programs. If the veterinarian completes a form incorrectly, outside the designated time frame or fails to meet the states testing requirement, their accreditation is in jeopardy. Your veterinarian, by receiving the extra training for accreditation, has accepted the responsibility for helping to monitor the health of your state's animals, and this job is taken very seriously.

To issue you a health certificate for travel, your veterinarian must call the state where you are going and find out their current requirements (which can change frequently), do any required testing on your animals within the state regulated time frame (generally within 30 days of shipment). The testing may take several days to be completed; the TB test for camelids is different than for cattle and requires additional training on the part of your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will also do a visual inspection of the animals to look for "signs of contagious and/or infectious disease" and make a statement regarding the regulatory status of the state of origin. Health certificates can be issued within 10 days of transport and are good for 30 days. One copy of the certificate goes to your state department of agriculture, one to the state of your destination's department of agriculture, one copy must by in your possession while transporting the animal and one copy goes into your medical record at your veterinarian's office. Please don't wait until a few days before you are leaving to ask for your health certificates. A good thumb rule is to call your veterinarian about three weeks ahead of your travel plans so they can find out your requirements, allow time for testing and inspection. Please be patient and cooperative with your veterinarian - we're trying to enforce the laws and protect our state and our nation's livestock industries.

The Future: The proposed National Animal Identification Plan will take animal monitoring further than just health certificates. A health certificate follows the animal to the designated location. If the animal is resold and stays within state, the ability to track that animal becomes laborious and often we are unable to find the location of the animal. The new program would have the goal of allowing for tracking of animals within 48 hrs. Stage One of implementation would be to have "premises identification" of all locations that house any type of animal, including farms, veterinary clinics, auction barns, quarantine stations, etc. Many states, including my state of Wisconsin, are requiring mandatory premises identification by the end of 2005.

The Second Phase would be permanent official identification of all livestock of all species. This phase is not projected to be implemented in the major livestock species (sheep, cattle and hogs) until 2008, with the "lesser species" (horses, camelids, goats) to be implemented later. The proposed methods of identification proposed are electronic identification of some sort; a microchip that contains a unique animal ID number and is embedded in an ear tag is proposed for identification of the major species although nothing is set in stone yet. Implanted microchips have been proposed for camelids, but again, nothing is decided. Each species has a "working group", a planning committee looking for ideas from their industry and producers as to an acceptable identification plan, and these ideas will be presented to the National Committees as the ID program progresses.

The Third Phase would involve producers keeping a census of all animals on the farm, any additions [natural (born there) or purchased animals and their origin] and any removals (where animals are sold or deaths). This is not a new concept and is already in place in the sheep and goat industries for Scrapie and in deer and elk for Chronic Wasting Disease.

Agriculture is a multibillion-dollar industry in the USA and it is important to protect the livestock industries. Historically, the cattle industry has taken great steps to identify and eliminate brucellosis and tuberculosis, and there are ongoing eradication and monitoring programs regarding these diseases. The camelid industry is impacted more directly than other companion species because llamas and alpacas are modified ruminants, and most states require testing similar to what is required for cattle. Animal agriculture is highly regarded and protected in the U.S., and camelid owners need to be an active part of this process. It is important that we, as an industry, are positive and proactive in the identification process and we need to give our input to members of the Camelid Working Group. Protection of the health of our industry and a positive public perception of our industry are important for continued growth of the camelid industry. Your veterinarian can help you meet the requirements for your state and assist you with interstate movement of your llamas. See you in St. Louis.

Reprinted (revised ed.) from the Llama Futurity Assoc. Newsletter – June 2005 with permission of Dr. Kristy Brown.