Clipmark

NAIS stands for National Animal Identification System.

NAIS mandates that radio frequency tags (RFID tags) or chips be attached or implanted directly onto commercial livestock. Tags would be read or scanned by "readers" to create a computerized record of every animal -- hog, goat, cow, horse, chicken, turkey, elk, deer, or any other commercially produced livestock.

As part of the third phase of NAIS -- traceability -- anytime a farm animal leaves its birth premises, the producer would be required to report that movement to USDA within 48 hours.

If a cow leaves the farm to be sold, or taken to the vet for treatment, or moved to a different pasture that's not on the home premises, its movement would have to be reported to NAIS.

Large commercial feedlots would be exempt from individual animal ID requirements, with only one ID number required for all the animals inside.