Visual ear tags are affixed to this animal.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, through the Veterinary Services Division (VSD), will commence a series of parish-wide animal tagging blitz activities aimed at strengthening Jamaica's livestock traceability, food safety and disease-management systems.

The first in the series will take place tomorrow, December 6, in St. Elizabeth, targeting key farming communities including Mountainside, Watchwell, Newell, New Market and Donegal.

This focused mobilization will allow farmers to have their cattle tagged, registered and entered the NAITS database. The blitz will support the Ministry's wider efforts to modernize animal health systems and enhance the country's readiness for domestic and international market requirement.

The blitz also follows recent public concerns regarding tag availability and access to tagging services. However, the Ministry wishes to assure farmers that NAITS is fully resourced, and that adequate supplies of tags are in stock to support all cattle farmers.

Chief Veterinary Officer in the Veterinary Services Division of the Ministry, Dr. Sophia Ramlal, explained that strategic investments have been made to ensure full tag availability.

"We are fully prepared to execute this blitz, along with our usual operations, which are slated to continue up to the Christmas holidays" she stated.

"We have hired seven case interns to ramp up our capacity. Now, we just ask that farmers get their animals ready" she added.

The Ministry is urging all cattle farmers in the targeted communities to participate in tomorrow’s activation. Farmers are also being reminded to bring a copy of their identification and TRN to ensure a smooth and efficient process.

As the blitz continues across additional parishes in the coming weeks, the Ministry reaffirms its commitment to strengthening animal traceability, and supporting the long-term resilience of Jamaica’s livestock sector.

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