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USDA RFID electronic tag timeline for cattle traceability

Cattle producers need to prepare for expanded electronic ID requirements under the federal Animal Disease Traceability rule.

Chelsea Good with the Livestock Marketing Association says the USDA released a timeline during the National Institute of Animal Agriculture meeting last month.

“What USDA is moving forward with is not a change to what cattle must have official ID, but it is a change to what counts as official ID.”

She tells Brownfield the ADT requirements pertain to cattle moving across state lines, adult beef animals that are sexually intact, and dairy cattle of any age.

“By 2023, the only tags USDA is going to recognize as official ID are RFID electronic tags, and there’s a little bit of a stair-step between now and 2023.”

Good says the metal bright tags the USDA currently provides for free will not count as official ID once the rule is fully in place.

She points out the electronic ear tags will be more expensive, but the Ag Department has indicated it will provide some sort of cost-share.

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