Animal Disease Traceability

Knowing where diseased, exposed and at-risk animals are, where they’ve been and when they may have been in contact with others is very important in ensuring a quick, effective response in the event of an animal disease outbreak. An efficient and accurate animal disease traceability system helps reduce the number of animals involved in an investigation, reduces the time needed to respond, and decreases the cost to producers.

The federal Traceability for Livestock Moved Interstate rule, effective March 2013, established minimum national official identification and documentation requirements for the traceability of livestock moving interstate. The species covered in the rule include cattle and bison, sheep and goats, swine, horses and other equines, captive cervids (e.g., deer and elk) and poultry. When these animals move interstate, unless otherwise exempt, they must be officially identified and accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection (ICVI), or other movement document agreed upon by both the sending and receiving states.

ADT for Cattle and Bison

In 2017, USDA-APHIS hosted a series of public meetings across the country to hear about the successes and challenges of the ADT framework, specifically for traceability in cattle and bison. As a result, a new rule was proposed and amended on May 9, 2024. As a leading state for producing high quality livestock, it is vital that Missouri producers, livestock markets, veterinarians and others in the livestock industry be aware of the new regulations and apply them throughout the state.

On May 9, 2024, USDA- APHIS published into the Federal Register the Final Animal Disease Traceability Rule “Use of Electronic Identification Ear tags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison” making visually and electronically readable tags the only form of official identification for sexually intact cattle and bison 18 months of age and older, all rodeo, exhibition cattle, and dairy cattle moving interstate. This new rule will become effective Nov. 5, 2024. USDA’s Final 2024 Animal Disease Traceability rule only changes the type of tag that can be used, it does not change the class of animals that are required to be tagged.

Previously-acceptable NUES tags (silver ‘brite’ tags) will no longer be accepted as official identification for cattle or bison after Nov. 5, 2024. NUES tags that were applied prior to Nov. 5 will be grandfathered in, so a new official eartag will not need to be applied.

Additional changes to 9 CFR §86 include the following:

  • Additional record keeping requirements for the retrieval of official identification distribution records, certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) within 48 hours of the request made by federal or state animal health officials.
  • Clarification on how dairy breeds are defined.
    • Dairy Cattle as defined in 9 CFR §86.1: “All cattle, regardless of age or sex or current use, that are of a breed(s) or offspring of a breed used to produce milk or other dairy products for human consumption, including, but not limited to, Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Holstein, Jersey, Guernsey, Milking Shorthorn, and Red and Whites.”
Additional information can be found in the documents below or at Traceability (usda.gov).

ADT for Sheep and Goats

On March 25, 2019, APHIS updated its scrapie regulations and program standards, which included updating identification requirements for goats and certain record keeping requirements for sheep and goats. These rules apply to sheep or goats that are moving or have moved in interstate commerce, that have resided on premises where interstate commerce is conducted, or that are owned by people who engage in interstate commerce. This includes animals moved though markets or other sites where interstate commerce occurs even if the particular animal has not left the state.

For more information see:

ADT for Swine

Existing regulations require that, with certain exceptions, swine must be identified at whichever of the following comes first:

  • The point of first commingling in interstate commerce with swine from any other source;
  • Upon unloading in interstate commerce at any livestock market;
  • Upon transfer of ownership in interstate commerce; or

All swine entering Missouri require individual, official identification prior to being moved interstate. They must always have individual, official identification listed on their Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI).

Official Identification Methods

  • Ear Notch – only if registered with a purebred association
  • Ear or inner flank tattoos – only if registered with a purebred association
  • Microchip for pet pigs
  • PIN Tags for Slaughter Swine
  • USDA Silver Tag (8 or 9 characters)
  • 840-RFID tag

Animals which would otherwise require identification may go directly to an approved slaughter facility, to be slaughtered within 3 days, with a USDA-approved backtag in lieu of other identification.

For more information see:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/rule_movement_swine.pdf
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ADT_device_swine.pdf

ADT for Horses

Horses and other equines required to be officially identified for interstate movement must be identified by:

  • A description sufficient to identify the individual equine including, but not limited to, name, age, breed, color, gender, distinctive markings, and unique and permanent forms of identification when present (e.g., brands, tattoos, scars, cowlicks, blemishes, or biometric measurements). When the identity of the equine is in question at the receiving destination, the State or Tribal animal health official in the State or Tribe of destination or APHIS representative may determine if the description provided is sufficient.
  • Electronic identification that complies with ISO 11784/11785.
  • Non-ISO electronic identification injected to the equine on or before March 11, 2014.
  • Digital photographs sufficient to identify the individual equine.

Horses and other equines moved interstate must be accompanied by an ICVI and an equine infectious anemia test chart with a negative result within the past 12 months prior to movement.

For more information see:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/rule_movement_equine.pdf

ADT for Poultry

Poultry required to be officially identified for interstate movement must be identified by one of the following methods:

  • Sealed and numbered leg bands in the manner referenced in the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) regulations (9 CFR parts 145 through 147).
  • Group/lot identification when a group/lot identification number (GIN) may be used.

Poultry moved interstate must be accompanied by an ICVI unless:

  • They are from a flock participating in the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) and are accompanied by the documentation required under the NPIP regulations (9 CFR parts 145 through 147) for participation in that program.
  • They are moved directly to a recognized slaughtering or rendering establishment.

For more information see:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/rule_movement_poultry.pdf

Obtaining Official Identification Tags

The MDA Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory in Jefferson City provides RFID tags to accredited veterinarians upon request. Producers can get tags through their veterinarian or directly from the manufacturer if they have a federal premises ID. Producers cannot get tags from our lab. If you are an accredited vet seeking RFID tags, call the lab at (573) 751-3460.

Producers interested in purchasing their own tags should visit the Department’s Animal Identification Program online or call (573) 751-3377 to obtain a Premise Identification Number (PIN). After obtaining a unique PIN, producers may choose from among USDA official tags and approved methods, including microchips. A list of Official Animal Identification Number (AIN) Devices is available here.

Approved ADT Tagging Sites

An approved tagging site is a premises, authorized by APHIS, State, or Tribal animal health officials, where livestock may be officially identified on behalf of their owner or the person in possession, care, or control of the animals when they are brought to the premises. These sites are allowed to accept livestock that require, but do not have the required official identification to move interstate. The Approved Tagging Site must apply official identification as described in the Code of Federal Regulations. The record of application of official identification, correlated to the consignor of the animals must be submitted to the State Veterinarian of Missouri by the Approved Tagging Site.

The tagging site requirements are as follows:

  • Obtain official identification tags only from the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Animal Health Division;
  • Officially identify animals required to be identified before commingling with animals from different premises, or use a backtag or other method to accurately maintain the animal’s identity until the official eartag is applied so the official identification can be correlated to the person responsible for shipping the animal;
  • Only apply official eartags to animals not already officially identified;
  • Do not remove official identification devices unless authorized by an animal health official (see 9CFR 86.4(d) and (e)).
  • Maintain records on-site for a minimum of five (5) years;
  • Submit records of tag application/distribution within 7 days to Missouri animal health officials.

Other Helpful Resources

If you are moving livestock into Missouri, please visit our Import and Export Regulations page, or call (573) 751-3377. For a listing of all states' livestock import requirements, visit here.