USDA RFID For Bovine TB Disease Control

The USDA implement RFID ear tags in cow populations to control the spread of animal disease. The goal is to link the cattle to their premises of origin. If an outbreak occurs in the future, infected animals can be quickly traced in the supply chain. Bovine tuberculosis investigations are active in several States. ...

... "NAIS-compliant 840 tags provide for individual identification of livestock through a 15-digit number beginning with the U.S. country code. Through the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, the 840 tags allow animal health officials to electronically identify an animal. This increases the efficiency of animal disease investigations that involve the tracing of exposed and potentially infected animals. RFID technology also increases the accuracy of recording the animal's 15-digit animal identification number (AIN). USDA has purchased a total of 1.5 million 840 RF animal identification tags to support animal disease control programs, including the bovine TB and brucellosis programs. " ...

Via U.S. Department of Agriculture: NATIONAL ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM BUSINESS PLAN