Camelid Working Group (CWG) News Release from earlier this summer.

Questions Answered on Current and Future Microchipping of Camelids

Editorial Note: We saw this information in the L.A.M.A.S. (Lama Association of the Mid-Atlantic States) News, July 2005 issue Volume 20 No. 4 and realized we had not received this news release (likely an e-mail glitch) in June. The information is still current and valid so we want to get it out to you. The CWG expects to hear more updates at the ID Expo at the end of this month. The CWG news releases are available at www.camelidid.org/press_releases/index.html and ALL of the CWG information is available to the public on their web site – www.camelidid.org

Comments from several llama and alpaca owners concerning how microchips currently in use in camelids will fit into the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) provided additional impetus to a previously scheduled teleconference between several members of the Camelid Working Group (CWG) and Dr. John Wiemers, USDA’s liaison to the CWG. A summary of the June 1 discussion with Dr. Wiemers follows each question.

1. Can the microchips currently in common use in camelids, i.e. the 9, 10 or 12-character, 125- and 128-kHz microchips, be grandfathered in as a means of official identification in the NAIS for the lifetime of the animal?

Yes, if these microchips are currently implanted in a registered camelid, they can be grandfathered in for the remaining lifetime of the animal, and implantation with a second 134.2-kHz microchip will not be necessary. Several conditions, however, will apply to the grandfathering in these microchips. For example, the owner will be responsible for ensuring that the microchip is functional and for providing a scanner capable of reading the microchip if the animal is transported interstate. Whether or not these microchips could be grandfathered in for unregistered camelids has yet to be determined.

2. Neither the 125- or 128-kHz microchips have the requisite 15-digits with the USA country code, so how could they be used for official identification?

A breed registration number is currently one of several forms of official identification approved for participation in government programs and interstate movement of livestock. For the NAIS, the grandfathered microchips would be considered a supplemental form of identification secondary to the breed registration number. (It is important to note that permanent identification of animals will eventually be required by each state for intrastate transport of livestock as well.)

Here is how the 125- or 128-kHz microchips would be used as official identification in the NAIS: the animal must be registered, the microchip number must be on the registration certificate, a copy of the certificate listing the microchip number must accompany the animal during interstate transportation, the microchip in the animal must be functional and match the microchip number on the registration certificate, and a reader capable of reading the microchip must be available during transportation. For NAIS tracking purposed, the NAIS database would record the breed registry number as the primary form of identification and the microchip number as the alternate method.

3. Why might grandfathering of the 125- or 128-kHz microchips be limited to registered camelids?

The breed registration number if the official means of identification that links the microchip number to a specific animal. A 125- or 128-kHz microchip is not recognized as official identification, so without a registration number, unregistered animals have not form of official identification. The CWG needs to determine if there is a way the microchips in unregistered animals could also be grandfathered in, perhaps, for example, by listing them in the International Lama Registry database.

4. If an animal doesn’t currently have a 125- or 128-kHz microchip and the owner implants one in the future, will they be grandfathered in also?

Ongoing use of 125- or 128-kHz microchips is problematic, and there is no clear answer to your question. If the microchips were implanted recently, or will be in the near future, they will likely be grandfathered in.

5. Can camelid owners continue to use 125-kHz microchips indefinitely?

As it stands now, it does not appear that owners can continue to implant 125- or 128-kHz microchips in camelids indefinitely and have them grandfathered in for use in the NAIS. When participation in the NAIS becomes mandatory, which is expected to be in 2008 or 2009, it appears that only 15-digit 134.2-kHz microchips will be acceptable. The CWG will need to develop a timeline for phasing out the use of 125- and 128-kHz microchips as new implants while making the transition to 134.2-kHz microchips. The timeline described in the NAIS Strategic Plan draft indicates “840 numbers” ( USA country code) will be initiated in August 2005. USDA is on target for release of official animal identification numbers (AIN) in late summer 2005, and 15-digit 134.2-kHz microchips bearing official AIN should be available shortly thereafter.

Note: Only those animals leaving the farm or ranch to enter commerce (e.g. travel to another state, move to another farm for breeding or because they sere sold, attend a show, etc.) will need to be microchippped; animals that stay on your farm will not require permanent identification.

The CWG will continue to keep the llama and alpaca community informed on development of the NAIS for camelids. Up-to-date information on the NAIS, including the recently released drafts of the NAIS Strategic Plan and Program Standards, is available at the USDA web site http://www.usda.gov/nais. The camelid ID plan is still under development by the CWG. Please submit your comments or questions to the following CWG members:

Teri Nilson Baird at teri@brokenwindmill.com
Karen Conyngham at 72040.3361@compuserve.com
Sheila Fugina at bsfugina@pressenter.com
Dr. Julie Jarvinen at jarvinen@iastate.edu

Marsharee Wilcox at mwilcox@stpaultravelers.com or vllamas@bellatlantic.net