Know the rules to be prepared before shipping cattle.
The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) Rules in 2013 requiring certain classes of cattle to have “official identification” for interstate movement. This rule was updated in April 2024 requiring official identification to be both visually and electronically readable. The updated rule goes into effect on November 5, 2024.
The official identification requirements apply only to limited classes of cattle. It does not apply to cattle moving directly to slaughter. The affected classes of cattle are:
Sexually intact cattle > 18 m
All female dairy cattle (any age)
Male dairy cattle born after March 11, 2013
All cattle used for rodeo, showing, exhibition
The USDA is supplying approved tags while supplies last through state veterinarians. In Virginia, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has maintained a healthy supply of tags since the original 2013 ruling. The animal disease traceability information is stored in state and federal databases not available to the public. Cattle tagged with non-electronic official identification prior to November 5 do not need to be re-tagged. Their original tags will be grandfathered in for the lifetime of the animal.
The updated rule aims to improve traceability in the event of a foreign animal disease outbreak. Such outbreaks can cost the cattle industry billions, so electronic identification allows faster, more accurate tracing. This reduces the number of herds affected by quarantines and culling, and enables quicker containment and a swifter return to normal operations once the outbreak is controlled.
The United Kingdom experienced two separate food and mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in the recent past — one prior to widespread implementation of electronic identification (EID) in 2001, and another in 2007 after widespread use of EID. The difference in the two outbreaks was stark.
2001 Outbreak | 2007 Outbreak |
|---|---|
Duration: 8 months | Duration: 4 months |
6 million animals depopulated | 2100 animals depopulated |
Over 50 farmers and veterinarians lost to suicide | No known farmers and veterinarians suicides associated with outbreak |
Cost: $19 billion | Cost: $200 million |
Return to normal trade relations: 18 months | Return to normal trade relations: 2 months |
Many state and national producer and veterinary organizations have worked to represent industry interests and ensure traceability measures can be implemented with minimal cost and disruption to farmers. While some view this ruling as invasive or burdensome, it is in place to protect U.S. agriculture. The traceability system will save lives and money in the event of a disease outbreak. We encourage you to contact your veterinarian with any questions and to be prepared in advance of any cattle shipping needs.
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