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 to ensuring a quick, effective response in the event of an animal disease event. Animal disease traceability helps reduce the impact of disease investigations to both animals and producers.

In January 2013, the USDA published a final rule establishing regulations for improving disease traceability of U.S. livestock moving interstate. 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. The regulations include:

  • For beef and dairy cattle moving into Missouri from other states, no changes to existing rules are needed because Missouri requirements already met or exceeded the new Federal requirements related to disease traceability.
  • For beef cattle moving within the state, no changes to existing rules are needed because Missouri requirements already met or exceeded the new Federal requirements related to disease traceability.
  • All dairy females sold interstate must be officially identified through a licensed veterinarian and listed individually on a certificate of veterinary inspection.
  • All dairy males born after March 11, 2013 being sold interstate must be officially identified through a licensed veterinarian and a certificate of veterinary inspection.

The new rule went into effect March 11, 2013. The Missouri Department of Agriculture continues to work with livestock markets, auction barns and other facilities to ensure livestock owners, marketers, haulers and others in the industry have the tools necessary to ensure Missouri remains a leader among states.

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 their 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 below.

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