USDA revised its total premises count for U.S. livestock farms from 2.1 million total premises to 1.4 million. The 2.1-million figure had been based on figures from the National Ag Statistics Survey (NASS), which USDA learned counted locations for each species a producer owned. Thus, the 2.1-million figure includes duplications for operations with more than one livestock commodity.

NASS recalculated the statistics. The resulting estimate of 1.4 million livestock farms in the U.S. offers a more accurate figure for the purposes of the National Animal Identification System, USDA says.

Animal owners can voluntarily participate by registering their premises with their State, Tribe, or Territorial animal health authority by telephone, mail, or online at: http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/premises_id/register.shtml.