A new USDA Animal Disease Traceability rule requires that
livestock be officially identified before they are moved across state lines.
University of Missouri Extension Veterinarian Craig Payne says everyone
involved in the cattle industry should be aware of the rule that went into
effect nationwide on March 11.
“This regulation applies to the interstate movement of cattle
in the U.S.,” Payne said, “and under the regulations there are three classes of
cattle that will be impacted.”
“If you are shipping sexually intact beef cattle 18 months of
age or older out of state those animals will have to be officially identified
and have a certificate of veterinary inspection,” Payne said.
Another class of cattle that will need to be identified and
have a certificate of veterinary inspection is any cattle, regardless of age,
that are going out of state to a rodeo, recreational event, show or exhibition.
“The last one pertains to dairy cattle,” Payne said. “All
female dairy cattle regardless of age and all male dairy cattle including dairy
steers born after March 11, 2013 will require official identification as well
as a certificate of veterinary inspection before moving out of the state.”
There are some exemptions to the identification requirement of
the rule such as cattle moving directly to a recognized slaughtering
establishment and those moving directly to a tagging site in another state such
as livestock markets that have been authorized by Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, State or Tribal animal health officials.
“The big thing to keep in mind is that in terms of beef
cattle, anything less than 18 months of age is not going to require
identification,” Payne said. “Also, there are a quite a few exceptions and
details in this rule so if you have any doubts about what is required contact
your veterinarian or state animal health official.”
Payne says the primary forms of
identification that will be used include the silver or “brite” metal ear tags.
“If heifers have been brucellosis vaccinated their orange brucellosis
vaccination tag will qualify,” Payne said. “There is also a tag called an AIN
tag which has a 15 digit number beginning with 840. These include a variety of different
types; one is the electronic identification tag and there is also a visual
tag.”
“The final thing to remember about the rule is it is not a
substitute for individual state import regulations which may be more stringent
than the USDA regulations,” Payne said. Because of this, Payne recommends that
you call the destination state prior to shipment to make sure you are in full
compliance with their import regulations.
Click for more information
about the Animal Disease Traceability.
(Courtesy of Craig A. Payne, DVM, MS University of Missouri)
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