By Julie Tomascik
Editor

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new animal disease traceability rule goes into effect Nov. 5.

The new rule requires electronic identification (EID) tags for interstate movement of certain cattle and bison to be visually and electronically readable.

It applies to specific classes of cattle crossing state lines that meet certain criteria. Those include cattle that are sexually intact and over 18 months of age, female dairy cattle of any age, male dairy animals born after March 11, 2013, cattle and bison of any age used for rodeo or recreational events, as well as shows or exhibitions.

This rule does not affect feeder cattle.

“The EID system aims to help U.S. cattle ranchers and animal health officials with emergency response to animal disease,” Tracy Tomascik, Texas Farm Bureau associate director of Commodity and Regulatory Activities, said. “Farmers and ranchers across Texas are concerned with marketability of livestock, which disease issues can halt. TFB policy supports an animal identification system that provides disease traceability to protect our healthy herds and to maintain trade of livestock and their products.”

The changes will strengthen the nation’s ability to quickly respond to animal disease outbreaks through early detection, containment and eradication of disease.

Rapid traceability in disease outbreaks will help farmers and ranchers get back to selling their products quicker and keep more animals from getting sick, APHIS officials said.

“Texas is home to the largest cattle herd in the U.S., and upgrading the current identification system for cattle will make a disease response more efficient,” Tomascik said. “That alone will help reduce the impact of a disease outbreak and help mitigate an extended period for quarantined herds across the state.”

APHIS said it is committed to implementing modern systems that track animals from birth to slaughter, using affordable technology for farmers and ranchers that allows for quick tracking of sick and exposed animals to stop the spread of disease.

For more information, visit APHIS’s webpage about animal disease traceability.