Released: August 19, 2004

Kansas Animal Health, K-State Researchers Awarded $805,000 to Develop Animal ID System

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State University researchers will work with the Kansas Animal Health Department to develop a national animal identification system, thanks to an $805,000 federal grant.

The grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is part of $11.64 million awarded in a competitive program to states and tribes for a national identification plan’s premise identification network, according to K-State research veterinarian Mark Spire.

Spire, along with K-State Research and Extension beef cattle specialist Dale Blasi, has been working with KAHD on a project to evaluate the use of field-based, mobile technologies. Using global positioning satellites (GPS) that mark animal loading and unloading sites, the system will link state health authorities’ databases in the central United States with electronic individual cattle identification, premise identification and the location of the animals.

“Once completed, the system will use electronic RFID (radio frequency identification) technology placed on an animal to track it from the farm of origin through the marketing processes and all the way to slaughter,” Spire said.

“This project fits well with established research within the Colleges of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture (Department of Animal Sciences and Industry), linking animal surveillance to central databases using mobile wireless information technologies,” Blasi said. “Moreover, this project will address cattle movement – one of the critical issues faced by the national animal identification system. It fits well with the USDA’s desires to have 48-hour trace-back capabilities in the event of a national animal disease emergency or as part of ongoing disease surveillance programs.”

Several companies are working cooperatively with K-State and the KAHD on the project.

More information about the national animal identification system (NAIS) is available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/  .

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Mary Lou Peter
mlpeter@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News