• Animal Health
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• Traceability

Animal Disease Traceability

Animal disease traceability or knowing where diseased and at-risk animals are, where they’ve been, and when is important to ensuring a rapid response when animal disease events take place. Although animal disease traceability does not prevent disease, an efficient and accurate traceability system reduces the number of animals and response time involved in a disease investigation; which, in turn, reduces the economic impact on owners and affected communities. 

Overarching Goals to Increase Traceability

A comprehensive animal disease traceability system is our best protection against a devastating disease outbreak.  USDA is committed to implementing a modern system that tracks animals from birth to slaughter using affordable technology that allows for quick tracing of sick and exposed animals to stop disease spread.  In September 2018, USDA established four overarching goals to increase traceability.  These goals are: 

• Advance the electronic sharing of data among federal and state animal health officials, veterinarians, and industry; including sharing basic animal disease traceability data with the federal animal health events repository (AHER).
• Use electronic identification tags for animals requiring individual identification in order to make the transmission of data more efficient;
• Enhance the ability to track animals from birth to slaughter through a system that allows tracking data points to be connected; and
• Elevate the discussion with States and industry to work toward a system where animal health certificates are electronically transmitted from private veterinarians to state animal health officials. 

“Traceability for Livestock Moving Interstate”

On January 9, 2013, USDA published a final rule (9 CFR, part 86) titled “Traceability for Livestock Moving Interstate.”  The rule establishes requirements for the official identification of livestock and documentation for certain interstate movements of livestock. 

Specifically, unless exempted, livestock belonging to species covered by the regulations that are moved interstate must:

• Be officially identified, and
• Be accompanied by an Interstate Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (ICVI) or other movement document.

Livestock species covered under this rule include cattle and bison, horses and other equine species, poultry, sheep and goats, swine, and captive cervids. 

Official identification and movement documentation is essential to tracing livestock when disease is found.  More information about this rule and exemptions can be found under the “Program Resources” section below. 

Thank you for your interest in Animal Disease Traceability. If you would like more information on the Animal Disease Traceability Program, please email us at traceability@ usda.gov. Additionally, you are encouraged to contact your State Animal Health Official for more information pertaining to your State’s traceability activities and requirements.

Latest News

• APHIS Statement on Animal Disease Traceability
• "Slow Burn" – an Endemic Disease Trace Story
  
  • "Slow Burn" Workbook
    

Program Resources

• Summary of Final Rule Revisions from Proposed Rule
  
• Animal Disease Traceability Final Rule Q&A 
• ADT Monitoring and Compliance Overview
• ADT Monitoring and Compliance Guidelines
  
• State Road Maps – Traceability Implementation Plans   

Advancing Traceability

• Summary of Program Reviews & Proposed Directions from State-Federal WG 
• ADT Public Meetings - 2017 
• ADT Assessment Executive Summary 
• Animal Disease Traceability Assessment