Some of you may be aware of the NAIS program that was put into place just over a year ago.  For now it is voluntary, but there are those who are trying to make it mandatory.

It was originally put into place to help track diseases such as mad cow disease.  The concept?  Every animal (livestock animal) on your farm, in your yard, anywhere on your premises MUST be either micro-chipped or ear tagged and its every movement will be tracked by the government.  Also, once a year, a state vet or health inspector will come to your farm and check your animals.  If any animals are spotted not micro-shipped or ear tagged......you will be fined up to $1000 per day for each day they remain un-trackable.

I DO NOT like "Big Brother Government" stepping in on this.  I DO think that commercial breeders, feedlots, poultry producers, etc should participate in this system.....but someone who has a rabbit, a goat, a horse - EVEN ONE ANIMAL will be forced to register in this Governmental GPS tracking system.

The clincher?  As of now, IMPORTED livestock DOES NOT have to be registered before entering this country.  The bulk of diseases originate outside of the US and are brought here in IMPORTED meat - but they do not have to register.  Its crazy.

I'm FURIOUS about this.  Its just another way for the government to intrude in our lives.  Not only do you have to register your animals....but you have to register your premises (your HOUSE) as a place that has livestock and you will recieve a premises ID number.

To quote their site:

"Currently, working groups comprised of industry and government representatives are developing plans for cattle, swine, sheep, goats, horses, poultry, bison, deer, elk, llamas, and alpacas".

"As premises are registered and animals or groups of animals are identified based on the standard protocols, USDA will begin collecting information about animal movements from one premises to another."

 http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/index.shtml

I first learned of this from a goat forum I am a member of.  Below is a link to a thread on that forum (its 5 pages long but worth the time to read) which gives more insight and isn't as sugar coated as the NAIS website is.

Oasis, this will definitely affect you as well because you have horses.

There are lots of people who are already voluntarily joining the program.  It is rumored to be mandatory by 2008.  We have not joined and I just don't think small, hobby livestock owners/breeders should be imposed upon this way.  You wont even be able to raise meat for yourself without registering the animal through this program.

I do think the program could serve some good......but only in commercial operations where the meat is sold to the public and transported often.  If this gets underway, it wont stop at livestock....it will soon inlcude your pet cats and dogs as well.  Just wait and see.  It is also another way for the government to track your income (selling animals for cash).  If an animal leaves your property the government will know it.

Yes, we are required to report any additional income over $400 that we make in a year to the IRS...but how many people actually do it?  If I sell 2 goats I will now have to report it.  When I have the expense of barns, feed, vet bills to offset having to pay taxes on the money then WHY force the hardship of having to report it, keep reciepts, etc? Why?  Because the government wants to know every move you make.  You will be tracked on selling puppies, kittens, calves, goats, horses.....every damn thing.  Adopted animals as well....will be tracked.  If you show a calf at the state fair they will know.  If you take your goat to the vet, they will know.

What about people who have a backyard flock of chickens??  Commonly killed by predators, they will be microchipping to no end then having to report losses.  This could be very time consuming.

Sorry for the vent, but I just don't like the sound of this one bit.

I am just SO tired of the government interference.

Here is the link to the Goat forum.  Some of these people have really done their homework.

http://www.goatweb.com/coffeeshop/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13884