The Traceability for Livestock Moved Interstate federal rule (9 CFR Part 86) establishes minimum national official identification and documentation requirements for the traceability of livestock moving interstate. The species covered in the rule include cattle and bison, sheep and goats, swine, horses and other equines, captive cervids (e.g., deer and elk), and poultry. The covered animals moved interstate, unless otherwise exempt, would have to be officially identified and accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection (ICVI) or other movement document. The requirements do not apply to livestock moving:
- Entirely within Tribal land that straddles a State line and the Tribe has a separate traceability system from the States in which its lands are located; or
- To a custom slaughter facility in accordance with Federal and State regulations for preparation of meat.
Other exemptions are applied on a species-specific basis.
The following summarizes the methods and devices for officially identifying each species and when official identification and an ICVI or other movement documentation would be required.
Official Identification Devices and Methods
Cattle and bison required to be officially identified for interstate movement must be identified by means of:
- An official eartag.
- Brands registered with a recognized brand inspection authority and accompanied by an official brand inspection certificate, when agreed to by the shipping and receiving State or Tribal animal health authorities.
- Tattoos and other identification methods acceptable to a breed association for registration purposes, accompanied by a breed registration certificate, when agreed to by the shipping and receiving State or/Tribal animal health authorities.
- Group/lot identification when a group/lot identification number (GIN) may be used.
Official Identification Requirements
Official identification required for the following cattle and bison, unless exempt as provided below:
- All sexually intact cattle and bison 18 months of age or over;
- All female dairy cattle of any age and all dairy males born after March 11, 2013;
- Cattle and bison of any age used for rodeo or recreational events; and
- Cattle and bison of any age used for shows or exhibitions
Cattle and bison moving interstate are exempt from the official identification requirement when moved:
- As a commuter herd with a copy of the commuter herd agreement or other documents as agreed to by the shipping and receiving States or Tribes. If any of the cattle or bison are shipped to a State or Tribe not included in the commuter herd agreement or other documentation, then these cattle or bison must be officially identified and documented to the original State of origin.
- Moved directly from a location in one State through another State to a second location in the original State.
- Moved interstate directly to an approved tagging site and are officially identified before commingling with cattle and bison from other premises or identified by the use of backtags or other methods that will ensure that the identity of the animal is accurately maintained until tagging so that the official eartag can be correlated to the person responsible for shipping the animal to the approved tagging site.
- Moved between shipping and receiving States or Tribes with another form of identification, as agreed upon by animal health officials in the shipping and receiving States or Tribes.
- Moved directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment or directly to no more than one approved livestock facility and then directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment, where they are harvested within 3 days of arrival; and
- They are moved interstate with a USDA-approved backtag; or A USDA-approved backtag is applied to the cattle or bison at the recognized slaughtering establishment or federally approved livestock facility.
The official identification of beef cattle under 18 months of age (feeder/stocker cattle) will be established through a separate federal rule at a later date.
CVI/Movement Requirements
Cattle and bison moved interstate must be accompanied by an ICVI unless:
- They are moved directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment, or directly to an approved livestock facility and then directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment, and are accompanied by an owner-shipper statement.
- They are moved directly to an approved livestock facility with an owner-shipper statement and do not move interstate from the facility unless accompanied by a CVI.
- They are moved from the farm of origin for veterinary medical examination or treatment and returned to the farm of origin without change in ownership.
- They are moved directly from one State through another State and back to the original State.
- They are moved as a commuter herd with a copy of the commuter herd agreement or other document as agreed to by the States or Tribes involved in the movement.
- They are moved between shipping and receiving States or Tribes with documentation other than a CVI, e.g., a brand inspection certificate, as agreed upon by animal health officials in the shipping and receiving States or Tribes.
The official identification number of cattle or bison must be recorded on the CVI or alternate documentation unless:
- The cattle or bison are moved from an approved livestock facility directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment.
- The cattle and bison are sexually intact cattle or bison under 18 months of age or steers or spayed heifers. This exception does not apply to female sexually intact dairy cattle of any age or to cattle or bison used for rodeo, exhibition, or recreational purposes.
Official Identification Device and Methods
Horses and other equines required to be officially identified for interstate movement must be identified by:
- A description sufficient to identify the individual equine including, but not limited to, name, age, breed, color, gender, distinctive markings, and unique and permanent forms of identification when present (e.g., brands, tattoos, scars, cowlicks, blemishes, or biometric measurements). When the identity of the equine is in question at the receiving destination, the State or Tribal animal health official in the State or Tribe of destination or APHIS representative may determine if the description provided is sufficient.
- Electronic identification that complies with ISO 11784/11785.
- Non-ISO electronic identification injected to the equine on or before March 11, 2014.
- Digital photographs sufficient to identify the individual equine.
- For equines being commercially transported to slaughter, a device or method authorized by 9 CFR part 88.
Official Identification Requirements
Horses and other equines moving interstate must be officially identified before the interstate movement, using an official identification device or method listed above unless:
- They are used as the mode of transportation (horseback, horse and buggy) for travel to another location and then returned directly to the original location.
- They are moved from the farm or stable for veterinary medical examination or treatment and returned to the same location without change in ownership.
- They are moved directly from a location in one State through another State to a second location in the original State.
- They are moved between shipping and receiving States or Tribes with another form of identification as agreed upon by animal health officials in the shipping and receiving States or Tribes.
Horses or other equines being commercially transported to slaughter must be identified in accordance with 9 CFR part 88.
CVI/Movement Requirements
Horses and other equines moved interstate must be accompanied by a CVI unless:
- They are used as the mode of transportation (horseback, horse and buggy) for travel to another location and then returned directly to the original location.
- They are moved from the farm or stable for veterinary medical examination or treatment and returned to the same location without change in ownership.
- They are moved directly from a location in one State through another State to a second location in the original State.
Additionally, equines may be moved between shipping and receiving States or Tribes with documentation other than a CVI, e.g., an equine infectious anemia test chart, as agreed to by the shipping and receiving States or Tribes involved in the movement.
Equines moving commercially to slaughter must be accompanied by documentation in accordance with 9 CFR part 88. Equine infectious anemia reactors moving interstate must be accompanied by documentation as required by 9 CFR part 75.
Official Identification Device and Methods
Sheep and goats must be identified by one of the following means of identification and must remain identified until they reach their final destination:
- For animals required to be identified by the Scrapie Flock Certification Program (SFCP), electronic implants may be used when the flock participates in the SFCP and is accompanied by a certificate or owner's statement that includes the electronic implant number(s) and the name of the chip manufacturer;
- Official eartags, including tags approved for use in the SFCP or Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)-approved premises identification number eartags, may be used when combined with a unique animal identification number;
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) backtags may be used on sheep or goats moving directly to slaughter when applied within 3 inches of the poll on the dorsal surface of the head or neck;
- Legible official registry tattoos that have been recorded in a sheep or goat industry association's book of record may be used when the animal is accompanied by either a registration certificate or a certificate of veterinary inspection. These tattoos may also be used as premises identification if they contain a unique premises prefix? that has been linked in the National Scrapie Database with the flock of origin's assigned premises identification number;
- Premises identification eartags or tattoos may be used if the premises identification method includes a unique animal number, or is combined with a flock eartag that has a unique animal number, and the animal is accompanied by an owner's statement;
- When allowed, premises identification may be used if the animal is accompanied by an owner's statement
- Another official identification method or device may be used if it is approved by APHIS' Administrator.
Official Identification Requirements
Sheep and goats moved interstate must be officially identified before the interstate movement unless they are exempt from official identification requirements under 9 CFR part 79 or are officially identified after the interstate movement, as provided in 9 CFR part 79.
CVI/Movement Requirements
In general, when sheep and goats move interstate, the shipment must be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) or other approved document. If required by scrapie regulations, the document must show each animal's official eartag number, individual breed association registration tattoo, individual breed association registration brand, individual breed association registration number, or other official individual identification.
Ownership brands may be used on certificates for low- risk commercial sheep moved interstate when official identification is required, provided the ownership brands are legible and are registered with the official brand recording agency and the animals are accompanied by a brand inspection certificate.
Official Identification Device and Methods
Swine that are required to be officially identified for interstate movement must be identified by one of the following methods:
- Official eartags for any swine
- USDA backtags, for swine moving to slaughter
- Official swine tattoos, for swine moving to slaughter, when the use of the official swine tattoo has been requested by a user or the State animal health official, and the Administrator authorizes its use in writing based on a determination that the tattoo will be retained and visible on the carcass of the swine after slaughter;
- Tattoos of at least four characters for swine moving to slaughter, except sows and boars as provided in 9 CFR 78.33;
- Ear notching for any swine, if the ear notching has been recorded in the book of record of a purebred registry association;
- Tattoos on the ear or inner flank of any swine, if the tattoos have been recorded in the book of record of a swine registry association;
- For slaughter swine and feeder swine, an eartag or tattoo bearing the premises identification number assigned by the State animal health official to the premises on which the swine originated; and
- Any other official identification device or method that is approved by the Administrator.
Official Identification Requirement
In general all swine in interstate commerce must be identified at whichever of the following comes first:
- The point of first commingling in interstate commerce with swine from any other source;
- Upon unloading in interstate commerce at any livestock market;
- Upon transfer of ownership in interstate commerce
- Upon arrival in interstate commerce at their final destination.
ADT regulations specify that group identification can be used for interstate movement of swine if:
- They were born on the same premises; they were raised on the same premises where they were born; they are moved in a group directly to a slaughtering establishment from the place where they were raised;
- They are not mixed with swine from any other premises between the time they are born and the time they arrive at the slaughtering establishment, and
- They are slaughtered one after another as a
- group and not mixed with other swine at slaughter; or approved identification is applied to the swine after entry into the slaughtering establishment.
In addition, swine may move as groups within a production system where the movements between locations are routine and part of a valid swine production health plan, in which both the sending and receiving States have agreed to allow the movement.
CVI/Movement Requirements
Swine moved interstate must be accompanied by documentation in accordance with 9 CFR part 71.19 and, if applicable, part 85.
Official Identification Device and Methods
Poultry required to be officially identified for interstate movement must be identified by one of the following methods:
- Sealed and numbered leg bands in the manner referenced in the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) regulations (9 CFR parts 145 through 147).
- Group/lot identification when a group/lot identification number (GIN) may be used.
Official Identification Requirements
Poultry moving interstate must be officially identified before interstate movement unless:
- The shipment of poultry is from a hatchery to a redistributor or poultry grower.
- The shipment is from a redistributor to a poultry grower and the person responsible for receiving the chick maintains a record of the supplier of the chicks.
- The poultry are identified as agreed upon by the States or Tribes involved in the movement.
CVI/Movement Requirements
Poultry moved interstate must be accompanied by a CVI unless:
- They are from a flock participating in the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) and are accompanied by the documentation required under the NPIP regulations (9 CFR parts 145 through 147) for participation in that program.
- They are moved directly to a recognized slaughtering or rendering establishment.
- They are moved from the farm of origin for veterinary medical examination, treatment, or diagnostic purposes and either returned to the farm of origin without change in ownership or euthanized and disposed of at the veterinary facility.
- They are moved directly from one State through another State and back to the original State.
- They are moved between shipping and receiving States or Tribes with a VS Form 9-3 or documentation other than a CVI, as agreed upon by animal health officials in the shipping and receiving States or Tribes.
- They are moved under permit in accordance with 9 CFR part 82.
Resources
ODA Resources
Other Resources
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USDA - ADT Website
Animall Disease Traceability website provided by the United Stated Department of Agriculture