PROPOSED USDA TRACEABILITY RULE FOR CATTLE

On January 18, USDA announced the pre-publication of their proposal to amend animal disease traceability regulations, requiring electronic identification of certain classes of cattle and bison. The proposed rule would mandate the visible (both visually and electronically) use of official eartags for certain classes of cattle and bison moving across state lines. Authorities would utilize these eartags as a means of identification. Additionally, the proposal clarifies record requirements relating to cattle, mandating official identification device distribution records to be entered into a Tribal, State or Federal database available to USDA.

The proposed rule applies to the following classes of animals:

• All sexually intact cattle and bison over 18 months.

• All dairy cattle.

• All cattle or bison of any age used for rodeo or recreational events.

• All bison of any age used for shows or exhibitions.

How to get involved: USDA is accepting public comments on their proposed animal disease traceability regulations rule until March 20, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Comments may be filed electronically by visiting the Federal Register Docket and entering “APHIS-2021-0020” in the search box.

Use of Electronic Identification Ear tags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison, Federal Register - APHIS is proposing to amend the animal disease traceability regulations to require that ear tags applied on or after a date 6 months (180 days) after publication in the Federal Register of a final rule following this proposed rule be both visually and electronically readable in order to be recognized for use as official ear tags for interstate movement of cattle and bison covered under the regulations. We are also proposing to clarify certain record retention and record access requirements and revise some requirements pertaining to slaughter cattle. These proposed changes would enhance the ability of Tribal, State and Federal officials, private veterinarians and livestock producers to quickly respond to highimpact diseases currently existing in the United States, as well as foreign animal diseases that threaten the viability of the U.S. cattle and bison industries.

NCBA Statement on USDA Proposed Rule

NCBA President-Elect Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer and chairman of the NCBA traceability working group, today released the following statement regarding the USDA proposed rule on electronic identification for cattle moving interstate: “As USDA has worked toward a nationally significant animal disease traceability program, NCBA has remained engaged in the conversation with industry stakeholders and USDA to ensure the interests of cattle producers are represented and protected. It is critical that any program ultimately adopted by USDA allows for maximum flexibility and privacy. At the same time, USDA must also minimize the costs for producers and any business disruptions to the industry”.

APHIS proposes to require electronic identification of cattle, AgriPulse - Ear tags on adult cattle moving across states lines would have to be both visually and electronically readable under a proposal issued by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wednesday. The proposed changes to animal disease traceability regulations also would require official records be entered into a tribal, state or federal database and available to APHIS. The proposed change would impact approximately 11 percet of the national population of 100 million cattle and bison that used nonelectronic ID ear tags on average in the last five years, according to the proposed changes. However, Bill Bullard, CEO of the cattle group R-CALF USA, told Agri-Pulse he believes USDA underestimated the cost estimates and number of animals impacted. Bullard said the agency previously estimated about 30 million cattle would be impacted by the 2013 final rule. He was not aware of how the agency lowered its estimates, which would also impact the total cost of implementing the changes.

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