Animal Disease Traceability Update

A meeting of the Colorado Animal ID Advisory Group was held on December 13, 2013 in Arvada for the purpose of reviewing the USDA Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) program final rule published on January 9, 2013. It is important for sheep producers to realize that the ADT program applies only to interstate movement and that the requirement to move sheep and goats interstate remain the same as the current scrapie regulations for interstate movement.

While the impact of the ADT program on the way of doing business in the sheep industry will be negligible in the near future, producers will notice an increase in ADT program activity related to other livestock species, especially cattle over 18 months of age. At present, the emphasis is on education not enforcement. Producers may be interested to read about the latest updates on the ADT program at the traceability website http://www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability. Of particular interest will be the latest documents which can be accessed by clicking the Materials link on the menu at the top of the page.

The following factsheets may be of particular interest to U.S. sheep and livestock producers.

Animal Disease Traceability: A Guide to Identifying Sheep and Goats for Interstate Movement

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability/downloads/rule_movement_sheep.pdf

Summary of Traceability Requirements by Species

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability/downloads/ADT_summary_species.pdf