Submitted by: Brian Beer, CUCES Area Livestock and Forages Agent and Dr. Sean Eastman, Director of Animal Health Programs, CU Livestock Poultry Health
We have received some questions about USDA’s Electronic ID Rule, released on April 26, 2024. Some poorly worded popular press articles have caused confusion about what this new rule requires.
Dr. Sean Eastman, Director of Animal Health Programs with the State Veterinarian’s Office, confirmed that the rule released by USDA last week DOES NOT change which animals are required to have an official USDA identification; it only changes the type of tag required.
Sexually intact cattle and bison over 18 months of age are required to have an official USDA identification tag. That has been the rule for several years. USDA allowed the use of either metal clip tags (commonly called Brite, or NUES tags) or electronic ID tags as official ID provided those tags had the USDA Shield. The rule released on April 26 eliminates Brite tags as an official form of ID, leaving electronically readable tags as USDA’s only official form of ID. Cattle less than 18 months of age and cattle over 18 months old that are destined for slaughter are NOT required to have an official USDA ID. To quote Dr. Eastman, “The type of cattle requiring tags is the same. The type of tag required is the only thing this rule changes”.
The USDA announcement can be viewed here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/aphis-bolsters-animal-disease-traceability-united-states . There is a link to the rule within the announcement.
I hope this clarifies the changes that the new rule requires. Feel free to contact me if you have questions (bbeer@clemson.edu).
Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.
