Penn State Equine Identification Project

Penn State Equine Identification Project

The Penn State Equine Identification Project collected information about the advantages and disadvantages of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).  The project took place in 2007-2008.   There were four distinctive components of the project.

• County 4-H Horse Program Microchipping Project
• Surveys
• Presentations and Workshops
• Inflammation Study
  

The NAIS is a database of livestock animals - including horses - in the United States. Its purpose is to help producers and animal health officials respond quickly and effectively to animal health events. Participation in NAIS is voluntary. More information on NAIS can be found on the United States Department of Agriculture website: www. usda.gov/nais

The County 4-H Horse Program Microchipping Project

• During this component of the project PA 4-H youth members and leaders were given the opportunity to register their premise, and implant a microchip in their horse, record movements of their equine and become familiar with NAIS.
  
• 4-H members, their families, and 4-H leaders in ten PA counties participated in the program by implanting their horse with a microchip.
• Fifteen counties in PA had 4-H members attend workshops and presentations.
  
• Three hundred nine horses were implanted with a RFID microchip.
• Participants reported movements of horses.
• Implanted hroses were scanned at Open and 4-H events
  

This video shows the
process of implanting
the microchip.

Identification Microchip

An identification chip was implanted in the left side of the horse's neck by a trained certified veterinarian. A parental permission form and veterinary form were needed before the microchipping occurred. After the chip was implanted, the horse was scanned by a hand held device that reads the chip's data. The horse was scanned on the day the chip was implanted and at other 4-H events. Each horse that participated in the project received a Microchip Verification Certificate that verified the identification number and corresponded with the markings, age, gender and breed association information.

 Premises

A presmise is a location where the equine is stabled.  Premise numbers are obtained from PA Dept. of Ag.  Premise registration is free and is a part of the National Animal Identification System.  During the 4-H component a premise number was obtained for participants who did not currently have a premise number.  If the participant boarded the equine, the boarding stable obtained the premise number. 

Surveys

A total of six surveys were conducted during the project.

• General Equine Owners Survey
• United States Horse Owners Poll
• Amish Community Survey
• Horse Show and Event Managers Survey
• Equine Veterinarians and Health Care Professionals Survey
• AQHA Horse Owners from Western States Survey
  

The online survey was conducted to determine the impact of microchipping horses as a form of identification.  Participants were 18 years of age and older.  The survey participation was voluntary and information was kept confidential.  Surveys were administered to a variety of interest groups within the horse industry to enable an overview of the acceptance, need, desire, agreement and opposition to NAIS.

Presentations and Workshops

• The Pennsylvania State University incorporated educational workshops and presentations at PSU sponsored events and to other organizations/events to assist in the education of NAIS for the horse industry.
• Forty nine workshops and presentations were completed during the project
• The NAIS was exposed to over 22,000 people
  

Inflammation Study

• Temperature, inflammation and migration were evaluated.
• Research indicated that when impantation is performed according to standard protocol, microchip insertion is not detrimental to the health of the horse.
  

For more information about the completed project contact:

Helene McKernan
Project Coordinator
Penn State University Equine Research Associate
Clinton County Extension Office
47 Cooperation Lane
Mill Hall, PA 17751
Phone: 570-726-0022
Fax: 570-726-2237
E-mail: hbm10@psu.edu