Animal Identification and Tracing

NAIT to visit farms

The National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) project will be running a series of public meetings on local farms during April.

  • An update on the NAIT project
  • A demonstration of RFID technology in action
  • Presentations by industry representatives
  • Lunch supplied by sponsors
      

The first meeting will take place in the Greymouth area on 3 April. The details for this and other confirmed meetings can be found on the NAIT website at www.nait.co.nz.

For more information about the meetings, please ring Craig Purcell on 027 278 5404 or 07 825 2248.

MAF involvement

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand is working with industry and the New Zealand Food Safety Authority to enhance New Zealand’s animal identification and traceability systems, starting with cattle and deer.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry contends that changes to these systems would allow better management of biosecurity risks and would safeguard access to export markets for New Zealand’s agricultural products. MAF’s position on animal identification and traceability is outlined here.

Background on NAIT project

The National Animal Identification and Traceability (NAIT) project started in August 2004 when industry approached the Government to work together to improve animal traceability in New Zealand. An Animal Identification and Traceability Working Group was then established to consider domestic and international trends in animal identification and traceability, and propose a way forward to enhance New Zealand's existing systems. While current systems are adequate, demands for traceability for animals will continue to increase for market access, and to meet biosecurity and other on and off-farm needs. In July 2005, the Working Group distributed a report for industry consultation and from the submissions received, industry agreed in principle to the changes proposed. Summary of submissions[395K PDF].

In March 2006, an Animal Identification and Traceability Governance Group was established to oversee the development of the new system under the name “NAIT” (national identification and tracing). As at 26 January 2009, the NAIT Governance Group members are:

  • Ian Corney, independent Chairman
  • Ted Coats, DairyNZ
  • Andrew Fox, Meat and Wool New Zealand
  • Steve Murphy, Meat Industry Association
  • Frank Brenmuhl, Federated Farmers
  • Chris Mawson, New Zealand Food Safety Authority
  • Kevin Old, Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand
  • Douglas Birnie, Biosecurity New Zealand (MAF sponsor)
  • Mark O’Connor, Deer Industry New Zealand

Supporting the governance group is a Technical Advisory Group (TAG). The TAG members are:

  • Ben O’Brien, Meat and Wool New Zealand
  • Lindsay Burton, Dairy Companies Association (Chairman)
  • Kevin Cresswell, Meat Industry Association
  • Jacob Haronga, Federated Farmers
  • Susan Keenan, MAF/ Biosecurity New Zealand
  • Whitu Roiri, New Zealand Food Safety Authority
  • Arran Foster, MAF Information Services
  • Tony Pearce, Deer Industry New Zealand
  • Simon Tucker, DairyNZ
  • Greg McSkimming, PGG Wrightsons
  • Craig Taylor, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (observer)

In Budget 2008, the Government announced funding for the National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) and associated FarmsOnLine projects. Subject to the completion of a detailed business case, the Government will fully fund the capital cost and 35 percent of the operating cost of the NAIT system. The remaining 65 percent of operating expenditure will be funded by industry.

A new mandatory animal identification system for cattle and possibly deer is proposed to be in place by 2011. The inclusion of deer is dependent on confirmation of the in-field performance of radio frequency tags.

NAIT and FarmsOnline

The Waiheke Island foot-and-mouth disease hoax in 2005 identified gaps in rural property information that could impede a biosecurity response.

To address the gaps, MAF is looking at creating a complete register of rural property information, including farm location, ownership, management and stock information. Most of the information exists already among industry and government bodies, but is not readily accessible.

The “FarmsOnline” system would support NAIT by providing a complete source of property information to match against animal movements.

As the register would contain information on all farms, not just properties associated with NAIT (cattle and deer), it would facilitate the widest possible range of biosecurity and food safety responses.

The NAIT parties have agreed in principle that property information (including spatial data and assigning of unique property identifiers) should be held and managed by the Crown on a master property register that NAIT can access and support. Users of the NAIT system would be able to access property data via NAIT or provide updates to the property register database as appropriate.

Where NAIT is at

NAIT is currently in the design and planning phase. The focus of this phase is the production of a detailed business case that will identify, analyse and cost various options for the delivery of NAIT. An independent quality assurance process will be undertaken alongside this work.

Other activities underway during the design and planning phase include:

  • Identifying all the new costs arising from the proposed system.
  • Developing transition plans for each of the stakeholder groups (processors, saleyards, farmers, current schemes, etc) to prepare for the new system.
  • Developing the Crown’s policy positions and proposed new legislation needed to mandate the system and to provide the rules around the acquisition and use of data.
  • More stakeholder consultation, including a series of farm visits.

NAIT timeline

Deadlines/Deliverables Date
Current Phase initiation July 2008
Detailed business case submitted to Cabinet July 2009
Build phase commences (assuming business case approved) July 2009
Legislation drafted and Bill introduced to House October 2009
FarmsOnLine detailed design ready for NAIT use December 2009
System build and integration with other systems complete June 2010
Launch of NAIT system for voluntary use (i.e. led by industry) August 2010
Legislation in place (assuming support in House to progress) October 2010
Supporting regulations complete December 2010
Full NAIT mandatory system implemented June 2011

The NAIT proposal

The NAIT proposal is outlined in a discussion document that was launched in June 2008 as part of the public consultation process.

Under the proposal, changes will focus on the tracking of live animals up to post-mortem inspection at slaughter. Current systems are considered adequate for New Zealand's needs now. However, greater harmonisation of information and electronic recording of key data in a centralised repository will enhance New Zealand’s ability to use animal identification and traceability for market access, biosecurity, food safety and other related purposes. It will also provide greater opportunities for organisations to use official information systems for a range of on and off-farm purposes (e.g. farming automation).

Many changes relate to harmonising and sharing of information among agencies. Currently there are a range of animal identification schemes set up for a range of purposes. The enhancements proposed are adoption of a single, universal livestock identification system, supported by a core registry of data linking people, property and animals. This has the potential to replace elements of existing systems which duplicate this information. For cattle and deer the changes will include individual animal identification, and maintaining electronic records of all animal movements between properties. The movement records have the potential to replace the paper-based systems that are currently in place now.

Initial uptake is proposed to be on a voluntary basis. From 2011, however, it will be a regulatory requirement. While the focus is on cattle and deer (which already have compulsory animal identification for the national bovine tuberculosis pest management strategy), the aim is to provide an infrastructure suitable for other livestock industries to consider and adopt as appropriate.

Existing Animal Identification Schemes - New Zealand

There are four Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry-approved animal identification schemes in place at present; these are schemes set up under the Biosecurity Act 1993 and the Biosecurity (Animal Identification Systems) Regulations 1999:

  • MINDA, managed by Livestock Improvement Corporation
  • National bovine tuberculosis identification programme, administered by the Animal Health Board
  • Tracking of imported live animals, managed by MAF.
  • Agri-Tags, managed by AsureQuality Limited (AsureQuality has notified MAF that it intends to deregister this scheme and to merge data with Animal Health Board’s tag ordering system.)

As the project is implemented it is anticipated that there will be changes to these schemes to integrate them with the NAIT scheme. NAIT has developed standards for the use of radio frequency devices (RFID) for cattle, as an alternative to traditional bar code tags or visual devices. Work is underway to introduce NAIT-approved RFID as a secondary tag under current official schemes.

Existing Animal Identification Schemes - Overseas

As described above, the National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) project is exploring the development and implementation of a system that will enable New Zealand to better manage biosecurity and food safety risks and ensure continued successful competition in premium livestock product markets.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) is one of the partner organisations that are participating in NAIT. A growing number of countries around the world have implemented systems for providing or improving existing livestock identification and tracing capability. Many of these systems are meeting similar objectives but are doing so with differing specifications and ways of operating.

A document has been prepared by MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, on behalf of the NAIT partners, to inform the design and implementation of NAIT. It looks at the approaches to the identification and tracing of cattle that have been adopted in:

  • Great Britain
  • Australia
  • Canada
  • The Netherlands
  • Switzerland
  • The United States of America
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Argentina
  • Brazil

Summaries of the requirements specified by the European Union and the guidelines published by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) are also provided. The paper concludes with nine high-level recommendations that highlight where any solution for achieving enhanced livestock identification and tracing in New Zealand can best take account of the lessons that have been learned overseas.

A copy of the Review of Selected Cattle Identification and Tracing Systems Worldwide is available here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Updated February 2009

 

What is NAIT?

The National Animal Identification and Tracing project (NAIT) started in April 2006. Its purpose is to develop a national livestock identification system, supported by a core registry of data that links people, property and animals.

Why develop a new system?

New Zealand’s present official systems for animal identification are adequate. Changes are needed, however, to answer increasing demand for traceability from international and domestic consumers, to provide tracing of stock to cope with disease outbreaks and to provide for other on and off-farm purposes.

The processing and exporting sectors are reporting ever-increasing demands for information, including animal-raising methods and health status. Systems for biosecurity (around bovine tuberculosis) and market access (e.g. hormone growth promotants, imported animals) currently operate separately. While each works effectively for its own purpose, it would be beneficial to have a single national farm and core animal data system for all traceability requirements.

Will it include all livestock?

Cattle and deer are the first focus because they are already included in mandatory animal identification schemes under the National Bovine Tuberculosis Pest Management Strategy. However, to manage biosecurity risks, it is important to create a system that enables the tracing of other species. The system will be designed to allow other livestock sectors to be added when and as appropriate.

Why aren’t sheep included?

NAIT acknowledges the importance of sheep and other species in the traceability scheme. Sheep were not included in the initial focus because cattle and deer identification is already in place under existing mandatory identification requirements.

What requirements will be imposed by NAIT?

Farmers will need to:

  • ensure all cattle and, if included deer are tagged with a NAIT-approved tag;
  • record all animals onto the NAIT database either themselves or through a third-party;
  • notify NAIT of all farm-to-farm animal movements.

Processors will be required to record the receipt of all cattle and deer into their processing facilities, and provide the date of slaughter and other details for electronic transfer to the NAIT database. Farmers sending animals directly to slaughter will be able to leave recording of the movement details for their animals on NAIT to approved processors.

Saleyards will need to record the receipt and dispatch of all cattle and deer and provide the date of transactions and other details (e.g. ownership transfer and individual animal ID) to the NAIT database. Farmers sending animals to, or purchasing animals at, NAIT-approved saleyards will be able to leave recording of the movement details to the saleyard operator.

Transporters, drovers and anyone moving animals will be required to record transition points where animals are unloaded for consolidation with other mobs, for new transport arrangements, or when over-nighting on a long haul.

Parties will still need to comply with existing regulations and schemes (e.g. for bovine Tb, hormone growth promotant treatments, imported animals, and in respect of Animal Status Declaration forms). Existing industry recording systems will continue largely as before.

I'm a small-block owner with one or just a few cattle - how will I be affected by NAIT?"

You will have the same NAIT obligations as for other owners/persons in charge of larger herds. It is anticipated that service providers (stock and station agents, transport operators, etc) may offer services that include the meeting of NAIT requirements. A group of small-block holders might also consider sharing equipment to meet NAIT requirements.

I’m a farmer - How will I get my information onto NAIT?

You will be able to access NAIT on-line via a computer, via your approved third-party service provider, or by telephoning the NAIT helpdesk (there will be a small charge for this service).

Do all animals need to be tagged?

Under the NAIT proposal, only cattle and deer will be required to be tagged, at least initially. The current rules around the identification of animals for bovine Tb purposes, under the MINDA scheme, for imported animals and for HGP-treated animals will continue to apply. NAIT will set some additional new requirements:

  • All cattle and deer will have to be tagged with a NAIT-approved tag (this tag can meet secondary tag requirements of current official schemes).
  • The animals must be tagged within three months of their birth, or at the time of first contact with the animal (whichever comes first).
  • The animals must be tagged prior to the animal’s first movement regardless of age. The only planned exception is for calves less than 30-days-old going directly to slaughter.

Do I need to tag bobby calves?

The existing commercial schemes for payment purposes are considered adequate for traceability of calves less than 30-days-old going directly to slaughter. Such animals will not be recorded on NAIT (although provision to do so will be built into the system) as any biosecurity/infectious disease risk from these calves is minimal. However, for calves going to other properties and calves 30 days or older, RFID tagging and recording on NAIT will be required as for other cattle and deer.

What is RFID and where does it fit into this?

Radio frequency identification devices (or RFIDs) are electronic tags that emit radio signals that can be read by special readers, therefore eliminating the need for manual data entry. The RFID tags in use on NAIT contain only an identification number; any information about the animal will be stored on a database and linked to the animal’s RFID identification number.

RFID is used in other countries with animal tracing systems. The NAIT Governance Group is keen to ensure the NAIT system is based primarily on RFID tags for cattle and deer. To that end, RFID will be introduced via existing official animal identification schemes and will become regulated for cattle by 2011 (with deer at that time or shortly after, once RFID for deer is fully field tested).

Can all information stay with the animal i.e. on an embedded microchip?

No. At this point, and with current technology, it is more efficient to record and modify data in a database than on individual tags. In addition, if information is able to be recorded onto the tag there is a greater risk that the information could be tampered with.

My animals go directly-to-slaughter now. Will I be able to use a direct-to-slaughter tag?

With the exception of calves under 30-days-old going directly to slaughter, all cattle and deer will need to be individually tagged and recorded onto the NAIT database. Under the NAIT system we will want to know where all animals are at a given point of time, including the farm of origin. This is needed in the event of a biosecurity outbreak so that at-risk animals can be identified quickly. It will also enable us to provide assurance to markets that we have whole-of-life traceability. See also, “Do I need to tag bobby calves?”

Can I use tail tags?

No, not as official tags.

What happens to the tags when the animal dies/is slaughtered?

Most overseas animal identification systems use the unique identifiers only once to maintain the integrity of the system. The death or slaughter of all animals registered in NAIT must be recorded. Re-use of tags for some animal species may be considered as a future enhancement, but not in the first roll-out of the system.

Will farmers and processors have any input into the system design?

Yes. Farmers and processors are currently represented on the project by their respective industry organisations, which participate in project development and all major decisions.

How will identifying my animals limit the spread and impact of a disease outbreak?

Recording individual animals (through unique identification) and whole-of-life movements in a central database will mean an infected or suspect-infected animal and associated animals can be located faster during a biosecurity response. It will also help to identify animals associated with the infected animals. The faster and more effective the initial response, the quicker we will be able to limit the spread of the disease and demonstrate to trading partners that all potentially infected animals have been traced (preferably within 48 hours for diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease) – thus limiting the impact on trade.

What are the ‘on-farm’ benefits?

The on-farm benefits of technology utilising RFID include accurate recording of production details about individual animals and using this data to support management decisions. The uses may include regularly weighing animals to sell at optimum individual weight, tracking treatments, recording breeding information, and measuring milk production. RFID also supports automatic drafting out of animals that meet pre-defined conditions. To gain on farm benefits, farmers will need a further investment in technology (for example, RFID readers and software).

What will you do to make sure my information is only used for the purpose for which it was gathered?

The system will operate with very strict rules governing who has access to the data and how it can be used. Access issues and the security of data have been a fundamental design consideration.

How will NAIT fit with other official identification schemes?

NAIT tags will be incorporated into other official identification schemes. As a result a two-tag scheme will initially operate. The aim is to move to a single tag for all official purposes in the medium-term.

Will there be a transition process between the current and new systems?

Yes. Implementation of the NAIT system is intended to be a staged process. The system will operate initially on a non-mandatory sign-up basis in order to bed down systems and processes until it is regulated in mid-2011.

Will I still need to complete an Animal Status Declaration Form (ASD form) for farm-to-farm transfers and direct-to-slaughter movement of animals?

Yes, in the short-term. However, the NAIT system will enable ASDs to be partially completed (using information held on NAIT) on-line.

How long is all this going to take?

It will be mid 2010 before a full movement database system can be deployed. It will take until mid 2011 to put in place the supporting regulatory framework for full compliance.

Tagging of cattle with NAIT-approved RFID is already possible. NAIT tags can now be used under some existing tagging schemes. It is anticipated that other schemes will follow suit shortly. The deer industry will follow once the RFID technology has been proven for deer in the field, and industry consultation has been completed. Deer and cattle farmers will be able to sign-up to the NAIT system and start recording animal movement information at any stage once the NAIT databases and interfaces have been built.

The NAIT parties want to ensure that any new system causes as little disruption to industry as possible. Detailed planning has been undertaken. To ensure a smooth transition, implementation will only occur once the system is sufficiently developed and tested.

Why is the sign-up period so long?

While animals can already be tagged under existing schemes,, the databases and interfaces to support NAIT, apart from the national RFID tag registry implemented in June 2008, will not be in place until mid 2010. Changes to legislation will need to be proposed, drafted and taken through a Parliamentary Select Committee where public submissions will be sought and the issues debated. While this process could start in the first half of 2009 (following completion of design), unless dealt with “under urgency” legislative change will take at least a year (estimated mid-2010). Supporting regulations would then be prepared (estimated six months) and a lead-in time for full compliance of six months (mid-2011).

How do we ensure NAIT stays up to date?

NAIT will only work if the information held on it remains reliable and as complete and current as possible. To maintain high quality data, a number of features and requirements have been built into the NAIT design, including:

  • using existing credible data sources to reduce additional administrative burden;
  • making it a legal requirement for the submission of data within defined time periods;
  • keeping processes for farmers as similar as possible to those currently used’.
  • providing a range of methods for uploading data;
  • keeping the costs of uploading data low;
  • use of technology to automate animal recording, thus reducing manual error;
  • having functionality built into NAIT so it can be responsive to new needs;
  • providing clear rules and standards for universal adoption, but with some flexibility so those rules can be changed as technology and circumstances change;
  • having validation of data built into processes to manage data quality risks; and
  • designing NAIT as an enabling system, to support future information needs.

Further information

Contact for Enquiries

MAF Information Services
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526
Wellington, NEW ZEALAND

Fax: +64 4 894 0721
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