November 5, 2024, marked the implementation date for the updated federal animal disease traceability regulations requiring electronic identification tags in certain classes of cattle and bison crossing state lines.
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service implemented the new rule to better pinpoint and respond to animal disease outbreaks in hopes to limit both the spread of disease and the economic impacts of disease on livestock producers.
It is important for producers to know that the classes of cattle required to be identified have not changed. The rule applies to all dairy cattle, sexually intact beef cattle and bison over 18 months of age, and all exhibition and rodeo stock moving interstate. The rule does not apply to stocker or feeder cattle.
In accordance with the new rule, any animal tagged after Nov. 5 will need an 840 electronic identification tag. The ear tags must be visually and electronically readable for official use. Cattle already identified with a sliver Brite metal tag or orange bangs metal tag prior to Nov. 5 will not need to be retagged with an electronic tag.
Producers can obtain 840 EID tags through the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. The tags are free of charge, but the producer must cover the cost of shipping.
Other options to obtain 840 EID tags include:
- Direct from the manufacturer (i.e. Allflex, DataMars and Y-Tex)
- Your current vet supply distributor
- Shearwell Data – Animal identification and management systems
- All Data Tags
A premises ID is required to order 840 EID tags regardless of source. A PIN application is available on the Animal Industry State Veterinarian page.
The 840 tags are specifically for use in animals of U.S. origin. Other country code specific EIDs should not be removed or replaced.
Additionally, 900 series tags are not considered official unless they were applied before 2015 (i.e. the animal must be 9 years of age or older) or the tags are lime green or blue in color with “IMP” and the U.S. shield printed on the tag. These tags are only to be used in imported or non-U.S. origin cattle and bison who lost their original country of origin ear tag.
For questions or more information about the ADT program, contact ODAFF’s Rod Hall, state veterinarian, at (405) 522-0270 or rod.hall@ag.ok.gov.
