Extension Responds: BSE
WHAT IS THE WISCONSIN LIVESTOCK IDENTIFICATION CONSORTIUM (WLIC)?
WLIC is a Wisconsin initiative to contribute to and support the development of the U.S. Animal Identification Plan (USAIP). USAIP is a national effort led by USDA to create a national animal identification and trace back system to protect the health of the animal industry. Within the plan it is recognized that key components have to be administered by each state Department of Agriculture.
USAIP's goal is:
"To achieve a trace back system that can identify all animals and premises potentially exposed to an animal with a Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) within 48 hours after discovery."
Our livestock industry is important to the economic well being of Wisconsin . WLIC members understand that a 48-hour trace back capability is vital to our livestock industry, its well being and the contribution it makes to Wisconsin 's economic health. It will make it possible to trace, if necessary quarantine, and limit the economic impact of a disease problem. Further, they recognize that Wisconsin 's livestock industry has unique facets that can best be addressed by input from our producers, our marketers, our processors and our other industry partners. With our involvement, all our involvement, we can make the USAIP better. We can create a Wisconsin system that not only meets the state requirements in that plan, but serves as a model for other states and provides Wisconsin livestock producers with value added marketing opportunities.
Animal identification is a multi-phase process. It begins with registration of any premises where livestock are raised, marketed, processed or held for any period of time. This registration is the vital first phase in developing the trace back system. WLIC has established a premises registration program and, for an introductory period, is offering free registration. The next phase is actual animal identification; that is linking each animal with a number and linking that number to a registered premise. WLIC is working toward national standards that will accommodate multiple service providers offering competitive animal ID services. These may be livestock breed or industry organizations or private businesses. The final phase will be to record animal movements as they move from one premise to another. Creating this final phase will likely take years to accomplish. How many years will depend on the commitment, the vision and the determination of producers and their partners in the livestock industry—people like you!
A consortium is a group working together toward a common goal. USAIP has defined that goal and WLIC is determined to help it become a reality. The members of WLIC represent a broad spectrum of Wisconsin livestock industry gathered together in our common interest. We are a multi-species, cross-industry, grassroots organization. Our goal is to develop, promote and implement a birth to death tracking system for farm animals that makes sense for every segment of the industry. We are equally concerned that the process and the systems adopted are ones that not only work for Wisconsin livestock producers and their partners, but make our industry stronger and more profitable. We believe it can be done. We believe we can do it. Please join us in this important effort.
WISCONSIN LIVESTOCK IDENTIFICATION CONSORTIUM - DECEMBER 2003