The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced on April 26 a final rule requiring electronic identification (EID) tags for the interstate movement of certain cattle and bison. This measure aims to prevent disease outbreaks and enhance animal traceability.
The rule stipulates that 180 days post-publication, all official ear tags for these cattle and bison must be both visually and electronically readable. This new regulation builds on a 2013 rule mandating visual ID tags for sexually intact cattle and bison 18 months or older, dairy cattle, and rodeo and exhibition cattle. The updated rule transitions producers to EID tags and revises record retention and access requirements, along with specific regulations for slaughter cattle.
The USDA highlights the rule’s significant benefit: improving the national capacity to confine animal disease outbreaks to specific regions. APHIS Administrator Dr. Michael Watson emphasized that rapid traceability during disease outbreaks will minimize quarantine durations, prevent further animal infections, and expedite the return to market activities, thereby keeping markets open.
While EID tags and other advanced technologies do not prevent diseases, they enhance the efficiency of disease investigations by reducing the number of animals involved and the response time. Jamie Jonker, Chief Science Officer at the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), noted that EID tags allow quick data collection on an animal’s location, aiding swift tracing during disease events. Many dairy farms already use radio frequency identification (RFID) tags integrated into electronic animal management systems, recording health events, reproduction data, and milk production.
Though APHIS oversees interstate livestock movement, state and tribal authorities remain responsible for within-jurisdiction traceability. APHIS collaborates annually with state veterinary officials to test their traceability systems.
NMPF has long supported RFID tags for dairy cattle, and Jonker appreciates the USDA’s ongoing efforts to enhance animal disease traceability. The USDA continues to provide free EID tags to producers, ensuring a rapid response to foreign animal disease outbreaks. Producers are encouraged to check with their state veterinarians about tag availability.
The final rule will be published in the Federal Register soon. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) underscores the importance of permanent, unique animal identification for effective traceability and disease control, advocating for electronic identification over traditional methods like hot-iron branding.
History of USDA Traceability Initiatives
Since 2013, USDA APHIS has required identification and travel documents for livestock crossing state lines, necessitating official identification and an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection or similar movement documents.
In September 2018, APHIS set goals to incorporate electronic ID tags into an animal health tracking system, improve data sharing among stakeholders, and enhance animal traceability from birth to slaughter. APHIS began providing RFID ear tags at no cost to states and accredited veterinarians in 2020, replacing metal clip tags.
These initiatives aim to advance electronic data sharing among federal and state animal health officials, veterinarians, and industry; improve data transmission efficiency with electronic ID tags; and connect tracking data points throughout an animal’s lifecycle. This collaborative effort strives for a system where animal health certificates are electronically transmitted, enhancing overall traceability.
