Electronic ID (EID) tags will soon be required for interstate movement of some classes of cattle.
USDA released an advanced copy of its amended animal disease traceability rule on April 26. As part of the rule, certain cattle and bison will be required to display visually and electronically readable ear tags to comply with “official identification” under the Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) program.
The new rule updates a 2013 rule that requires sexually intact cattle 18 months or older, rodeo and exhibition cattle, and dairy cattle to have an official form of ID for interstate travel. The rule did not require tags to be electronically readable. Now, producers will be required to switch to EID tags.
“Rapid traceability in a disease outbreak will not only limit how long farms are quarantined, keep more animals from getting sick, and help ranchers and farmers get back to selling their products more quickly—but will help keep our markets open,” said Dr. Michael Watson, APHIS administrator, in a statement.
The final rule applies to the following classes of cattle traveling interstate:
• Sexually intact cattle and bison 18 months of age or older.
• All dairy cattle.
• Cattle and bison of any age used for rodeo or recreation events.
• Cattle or bison of any age used for shows or exhibitions.
Feeder cattle and cattle moved within state lines are not subject to the ADT program.
Animals tagged with a visual-only ID tag prior to the new rule’s implementation will not be required to have an EID for the animal’s lifetime.
Some exemptions will remain in place, such as:
• Cattle moved direct-to-slaughter from markets can move with approved backtags instead of official ID.
• Cattle requiring official ID can cross state lines directly to an approved tagging site prior to being identified.
• Cattle requiring official ID can cross state lines directly to an approved livestock facility without a health certificate if moved on an owner shipper statement.
• Cattle requiring an official ID must have a health certificate, unless the shipping and receiving parties agree on an alternative document.
In an earlier proposed rule, USDA suggested changing the classification of “dairy cattle” to include crossbred calves and calves born on a dairy regardless of breed, a proposal the Livestock Marketing Association opposed. USDA has since abandoned its plan to revise the definition.
USDA will provide tags to producers free of charge to jumpstart efforts to switch to EID. To obtain free tags from your state veterinarian, visit tinyurl.com/nhenf6sp.
The new rule will go into effect sometime this fall.
Industry reactions
There have been mixed reactions from industry groups following the announcement.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said an efficient animal disease traceability system is necessary to avoid financial losses during a potential disease outbreak. In addition, the group said it worked to secure $15 million in funding for producers to implement the change.
“We also remain committed to safeguarding producers’ private data and continuing to reduce the cost of ear tags for farmers and ranchers,” said President Mark Eisele in a statement.
The Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) however, said the rule benefits beef packers and eartag manufacturers.
“We will fight against the implementation of this disastrous rule that infringes on the freedoms and liberties of our nation’s independent cattle farmers and ranchers,” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard. “This is government overreach at its worst.”
The rule will be published in the Federal Register in the coming weeks and will go into effect 180 days after its publishing. — Anna Miller, WLJ managing editor
