USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proposes to amend animal disease traceability regulations and require electronic identification for interstate movement of certain cattle and bison. APHIS is also proposing to revise and clarify record requirements. The changes would strengthen the nation’s ability to quickly respond to significant animal disease outbreaks, according to USDA.
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 occur. Rapid traceability in a disease outbreak could help ranchers and farmers return to selling their products more quickly, limit how long farms are quarantined, and keep more animals from getting sick.
The proposed rule would require official eartags to be visually and electronically readable for official use for interstate movement of certain cattle and bison.
A comment period on the proposal through the Federal Register is open through March 22, 2023.
(From the National Association of Farm Broadcasters)