NAID and EID Management - Big Difference

June 2006
Brantley Ivey - Polk County Extension, Livestock Agent

There seems to be much confusion nowadays between what is assumed to be required for National Animal ID (NAID), and what can be accomplished by using Electronic ID (EID) management. These subjects are two completely different topics that are tied together merely by a little radio frequency ear tag. Over the next couple of years there will be much debate on how to accomplish the overwhelming task of individually identifying each animal that goes into the market system. It seems confusing, but the basic concept of NAID is simple. The first step of NAID requires every producer in the state of Florida to register his/her premise, and attain a premise ID number. This can be accomplished by simply filing an application through the Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Science. The application is free and upon completion the producer will have registered premise with the State. At this point, the producer requirement of this process has been met. Presently, this is all that is required for cattle producers and nothing more. When and only when, the federal government requires a tag in each animal that is entering commerce will the electronic tag be required. The tag will cost about two dollars and will have to be purchased by a certified dealer (that has yet to be determined). Consequently, in two to three years each producer should have a registered premise ID, and when the time comes each producer will have to place an electronic tag in the ear of those animals that will be going to market. This does not mean that every animal in your herd will have to be identified, just those animals that are entering commerce. In a nutshell, that is NAID.

Electronic ID management is the use of that electronic tag that will be required for NAID, a computer program and a tag reader to keep electronic records of your cow herd. This is not a requirement within the NAID program. The electronic tag itself is the only binding tie between these two programs. You will be required have an electronic tag to comply with NAID, but you can choose to use that tag along with computer programs in an electronic management program. Producers that choose to collect data on their herd can collect the data that is important to their management regiment. It can be as simple as herd inventory, or as advanced as feed yard efficiency and carcass grades on the calves they produce. The basic program (computer and reader) for herd data collection will cost a minimum of $1,500 to $2,000 to start collecting electronic data on your animals, but these programs will do the same thing that a pencil and paper will do for you. What EID does is manage the data in a computer database that will easily organize the data that you enter. The tag, along with the program, will allow you to keep a wide variety of records, as well as analyze that data that you have collected on your herd. There is a host of computer programs available to manage cattle, most of which require a radio frequency ear tag. A common misconception is that the tag will automatically keep and maintain the records on your herd. You as a producer will still have to collect and enter the data that is important to you. EID management can be a useful tool for those who choose to utilize it, but if you do not keep records now this program will not be beneficial. EID is exactly what is says; it is electronic management of manually collected data.

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