IN THIS ISSUE: pg 4 pgs 9, 11 pgs 11-20 SEE YOU AT: - ariLIST

Clarification of Current ARI Policy
Regarding Microchipping
The purpose of this article is to
review current ARI policy regarding
microchipping.
In recent editions of OneVoice, the
development of a National Animal
Identification System (NAIS) by
USDA/APHIS has been described, the
objective of which is to be able to trace
back domestic and foreign disease outbreaks
within a 48 hour time frame, in
order to control and manage animal
disease. In conjunction with this, the
Camelid Working Group (CWG) has
been tasked with formulating recommendations
for individual animal identification
and data collection, specific
to the camelid population in the
United States.
The AOBA/ARI Government and
Industry Relations Committee
(GIRComm) Report in the September
2004 edition of OneVoice indicated
that, effective July 1st of 2005, microchipping
would be required in order
to complete the ARI registration
process and, furthermore, that AOBA
would be requiring that all alpacas
entered at AOBA certified events be
microchipped.
On November 22nd, 2004, the ARI
Board approved a Policy regarding
Alpaca Permanent Identification (Policy
ID# ARI 04-06) in which it was recommended,
but not mandated that
microchips be utilized as permanent
identification devices, in addition to the
requirement that scientific blood testing
(currently, DNA testing; prior to
11/98, blood typing) be used for parentage
verification and alpaca identification
purposes, in the registration process.
This Policy also permits the use of other
methods of permanent identification,
including “eartags, tattoos, and other
permanent identification numbers.”
8
The CWG issued a Status Report
on September 2nd, 2004, in which
devices and methods for camelid identification
were described. The report
mentioned that, at that time, records
indicated that approximately 44%
of ARI-registered alpacas (and 10%
of ILR-registered animals) had a
microchip implanted; indeed, it was
felt that the percentage might be higher,
but that the records might not yet
have been updated to accurately reflect
the actual percentage of microchipped
camelids. The CWG indicated that
camelid owners preferred microchip
A microchip is about the size
of a grain of rice.
devices over other means of identification,
i.e. eartags, while acknowledging
that further study would be needed
in order to establish the longevity, as
well as the preferred location, of such
devices. (In the December 2004 edition
of OneVoice, the Alpaca Research
Foundation called for proposals to
address this issue.) The CWG further
acknowledged that other devices and
methods might better suit the needs
of industry for visibility and cost
effectiveness. Hence, the Report concluded
that the CWG would “need
to continue to evaluate microchips
and other identification devices”
before making its recommendations
to the USDA regarding a camelid
identification plan.
It has been GIRComm’s position
that if the alpaca industry takes a
proactive role in complying with
microchipping (which it feels is the
method of choice for alpaca identification),
the USDA would accept this as
THE method for camelid identification
under the NAIS plan. However,
in light of the CWG’s reluctance to
recommend a specific form of identification
for camelids at this point in
time, it is ARI’s current position that
it would be premature to require
microchipping. Instead, ARI will continue
to strongly support the use of
microchipping for animal identification
and encourage its members to
notify the Registry of microchip
numbers, for inclusion in its database
and on certificates. ARI database and
certificates have the capability of
including (multiple) microchip numbers,
as well as other forms of identification
such as ear tag and tattoo numbers.
Members will soon be able to
enter this information online, in a
secure fashion.
The ARI Board is committed to
serving the needs of all of its members,
while at the same time welcoming
the opportunity to work closely
together with AOBA to serve its
members, as well.
We will continue to carefully consider
the recommendations of the CWG
and GIRComm, as we monitor the
progress of the NAIS plan. If necessary,
revisions will be made to ARI’s current
policy, in order to affect and/or comply
with USDA/APHIS guidelines.
POINT OF CONTACT
Dave Friedman, ARI Board Director
alpacas@adelphia.net
315-831-3040