Pennsylvania Equine Council

NAIS

Penn State Equine Survey to Gather Information on Microchipping

The Penn State Equine Identification Project, taking place in 2007-2008, is designed to collect information about the impact of microchipping horses as a form of identification and tracking for the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

One part of the project is the completion of a mail-in survey to gather opinions about the advantages and disadvantages of the system. Participants must be 18 or older, so parents or guardians of youth in the 4-H horse program, horse owners and those with a stake in horse ownership are all encouraged to complete the survey. Penn state also has an online public opinion poll. This online survey can be accessed at www.das.psu.edu/4h/horse/identification/ and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Participation in both studies is voluntary and all information is confidential. If you have participated in the online poll or not, we would still appreciate you filling out the mailed out survey (if you are, send a copy).

The NAIS is a database of livestock animals - including horses - throughout the United States. Its purpose is to help producers and animal health officials respond quickly and effectively to animal health events. Participation is voluntary; those who chose to participate would be quickly notified if a disease outbreak or other animal health event may put their animals at risk.

A second prong of the Project involves 4-H'ers, their families and leaders in several Counties who are invited to microchip their horses for tracking/tracing purposes. The tracking/tracing data the 4-H member reports will help assess the ease or difficulty for this part of the National Animal Identification System. Participants must agree to report the movement of their horse each time it travels to an event over 50 miles away, or a large activity.

Those who participate have an identification chip implanted in their horses neck by a trained veterinarian at no cost to the 4-H'er. They must also have a premise number assigned by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

A third part of the Project includes a demonstration of microchipping during Ag Progress Days, on Wednesday, Aug. 15 from 12-1:30 p.m., and on Thursday, Aug. 16, from 1-1:30 p.m.

Funds for the project have been made available through the APHIS, USDA equine working species group.

For questions regarding this study, contact by telephone at (814)863-7810 or in writing:
Dr. Ann Swinker
324 Henning Building
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802

For more details about participation in the microchipping project, contact:
Helene McKernan
Project Coordinator
Clinton County Extension Office
(570)726-0022.

Home Legislation Officers Aims & Objectives Regions NAIS Trails Youth Events Liability Signs Newsletter	NAIS Penn State Equine Survey to Gather Information on Microchipping The Penn State Equine Identification Project, taking place in 2007-2008, is designed to collect information about the impact of microchipping horses as a form of identification and tracking for the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). One part of the project is the completion of a mail-in survey to gather opinions about the advantages and disadvantages of the system. Participants must be 18 or older, so parents or guardians of youth in the 4-H horse program, horse owners and those with a stake in horse ownership are all encouraged to complete the survey. Penn state also has an online public opinion poll. This online survey can be accessed at www.das.psu.edu/4h/horse/identification/ and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Participation in both studies is voluntary and all information is confidential. If you have participated in the online poll or not, we would still appreciate you filling out the mailed out survey (if you are, send a copy). The NAIS is a database of livestock animals - including horses - throughout the United States. Its purpose is to help producers and animal health officials respond quickly and effectively to animal health events. Participation is voluntary; those who chose to participate would be quickly notified if a disease outbreak or other animal health event may put their animals at risk. A second prong of the Project involves 4-H'ers, their families and leaders in several Counties who are invited to microchip their horses for tracking/tracing purposes. The tracking/tracing data the 4-H member reports will help assess the ease or difficulty for this part of the National Animal Identification System. Participants must agree to report the movement of their horse each time it travels to an event over 50 miles away, or a large activity. Those who participate have an identification chip implanted in their horses neck by a trained veterinarian at no cost to the 4-H'er. They must also have a premise number assigned by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. A third part of the Project includes a demonstration of microchipping during Ag Progress Days, on Wednesday, Aug. 15 from 12-1:30 p.m., and on Thursday, Aug. 16, from 1-1:30 p.m. Funds for the project have been made available through the APHIS, USDA equine working species group. For questions regarding this study, contact by telephone at (814)863-7810 or in writing: Dr. Ann Swinker 324 Henning Building The Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA 16802 For more details about participation in the microchipping project, contact: Helene McKernan Project Coordinator Clinton County Extension Office (570)726-0022.
Home \| Legislation \| Officers \| Regions \| NAIS \| Trails \| Youth \| Membership \| Events \| Donate \| Newsletter \| Links \| Contact Copyright 2008, Pennsylvania Equine Council. Post Office Box 62 \| Huntington Mills, PA 18622-0062 \| 1.888.304.0281 \| info@pennsylvaniaequinecouncil.com.