National Animal Identification System
Traceability is key to protecting animal health and marketability. To respond quickly and effectively to an animal disease event, whether it is a single incident or a full-scale outbreak, animal health officials need to know which animals are involved, where they are located and what other animals might have been exposed. The sooner reliable data can be made available, the sooner affected animals can be located, appropriate response measures established and disease spread halted.
Retrieving animal location and movement data within 48 hours is optimal for efficient, effective disease containment. The current U.S. animal disease traceability infrastructure falls short of this 48-hour objective. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is focusing on opportunities to bolster disease tracing capabilities by increasing the quantity and quality of animal identification data and efficient use of evolving technology.
The National Animal Identification System, developed in partnership with state animal health authorities, industry and USDA, is a state-of-the-art system that cuts acknowledges all species and extends the benefits of animal identification and disease tracing beyond livestock involved in a particular disease program.
In Kansas, the 
Kansas Animal Health Department is responsible for implementing the National Animal Identification System, and they have launched a campaign, "Locate in 48 -- 48-Hour Disease Traceback," to encourage livestock owners to register their premeises.
To learn more, visit USDA's National Animal Identification System website.