National Animal Identification System

You might not have heard of it yet, but it is an issue that could potentially have a huge impact on how you raise your chickens. The NAIS (National Animal Identification System) is a program run by the US government. It's goal is to improve animal health surveillance by identifying and tracking specific animals. This could, theoretically, help protect us from biosecurity threats such as rabies or avian influenza (the much-talked about "bird flu"). It is administered by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a branch of the US Department of Agriculture, the NAIS will also be overseen by your state's animal health boards.

The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) will affect nearly all livestock species, including your chickens! Besides poultry, the NAIS will include cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, certain fish species, and other farm animals.

Locations where these animals are raised, such as your coop and backyard, will need to be identified under the NAIS. Also, the animals themselves will be identified and tracked whenever they are moved (such as when you travel across the state to a poultry show, or sell them to a breeder).

The goal of the NAIS is to be able to traceback to the animal within 48 hours of a diseased animal's movements. This traceback would help animal health officials identify all the animals and locations that have had direct contact with the animal. In situations like the bird flu, this could be crucial in stopping its spread.

More information about the National Animal Identification System [ from poultryOne.com ]