|
|
|
|
Current Status |
| |
In the early stages of the USDA program, official working groups were established for each livestock specie. Working Groups are comprised of individuals and organizations most familiar with, and most in touch with, the needs of their specie.
Due to the specific needs of horses, the American Horse Council selected a special committee of horse industry representatives. This became the Equine Species Working Group, or ESWG. The ESWG is the official representative for the entire equine industry with the task of forming the National Equine ID Program for the USDA.
One of the first actions taken by the committee was a vote in favor of a National ID Program for horses. Dan Fick, Vice President of The Jockey Club and co-chair of the ESWG stated, “We are pleased the USDA seems to be taking a prudent, methodical approach to implementing a National Animal ID plan.” But Fick cautioned among other things, that “the horse industry is very concerned about confidentiality, practicality and cost.”
|
| |
 The ESWG divided into committees to handle different aspects of the plan as they worked to customize it for the equine industry. The plan for horses has now moved into the Development phase.
Recently, the ESWG submitted 16 recommendations to the USDA representing a framework of how an Equine ID program should function. The ESWG also submitted comments to the USDA regarding the particular needs of horses.
Among them, “One characteristic of horses not common to other livestock is how often they move, intrastate and interstate and internationally. The size, diversity and structure of the horse industry present unique issues in developing a National Equine Identification System.”
No final plan has been set. The comments and recommendations submitted to the USDA by the ESWG are available for viewing and copying in our Info Library.
|
|
|
|
