Animal Disease Traceability National and state rules differ slightly
By Ellen H. Brisendine
HE USDA RULE ON ANIMAL DISEASE traceability (ADT) goes into effect this month. The Texas
rule went into effect in July 2012, says Dr. Dee Ellis, Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) execu- tive director/Texas State Veterinar- ian. However, the commissioners granted a 6-month grace period to allow producers to prepare for the rule, essentially delaying the start of implementation until January 2013. The animal disease traceability
rules require that adult beef cat- tle (18 months of age and older) and Mexican-origin event cattle be permanently identifi ed, by an approved means of identifi cation, at any change of ownership — whether they are sold privately or through an auction market. The TAHC will allow cattle to move direct to slaughter from a premise without ID since single source con- signments are traceable through normal slaughter plant records. “The federal rule establishes
Dr. Dee Ellis, Texas Animal Health Commission
minimum guidelines for interstate movement of all livestock, not just cattle, but horses, sheep, goats, and poultry as well,” Ellis says. “This rule is for adult animals only, not for feeder animals. There will be a separate rulemaking process for feeder animals that hasn’t even be-
gun yet,” he says, adding the pres- ent USDA rule was deliberated for more than 4 years.
In Texas, brands are not offi cial identifi cation Compare the lists of offi cial iden-
tifi cation allowed in the USDA and Texas rules and readers will see that fi rebrands are allowed in the national rules, but not in Texas. “The federal rule says fi rebrands
may be used as offi cial identifi ca- tion for interstate movement if both states agree to it,” says Ellis. “But a fi rebrand state cannot tell a non- fi rebrand state that they have to accept their fi rebrand as offi cial ID.” Texas is not a fi rebrand state. The fi rebrand states are: Arizona Colorado Wyoming
California Montana Idaho
Washington Nevada North Dakota South Dakota Utah
Nebraska
New Mexico Louisiana
Oklahoma Some tribal nations In these states or tribal nations,
producers register their brand with the state or nation. Only 1 producer is allowed to use a particular brand in a specifi ed location on the livestock. In Texas, brands are registered
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Members of the Texas Animal Health Commission TAHC regulations are made and adopted by 13 governor-appointed commissioners who represent the general public and various livestock industries and professions. The commissioners serve staggered 6-year terms and meet as needed to study the regula- tory needs of the agency, review public comments on proposed regulation changes, and adopt new rules when necessary.
Commissioner, Industry Represented, Term Expires Ernie Morales, chairman, Feedlot Industry, Sept. 6, 2017 Brandon Bouma, Dairy, Sept. 6, 2017 Randy C. Brown, General Public, Sept. 6, 2013 William Edmiston Jr., D.V.M., Sheep and Goat, Sept. 6, 2013 Ken Jordan, Livestock Market, Sept. 6, 2013 Thomas “Tommy” Kezar, General Public, Sept. 6, 2017 Coleman Hudgins Locke, Beef Cattle, Sept. 6, 2015 Charles “Chuck” Real, Swine, Sept. 6, 2013 Ralph Simmons, Poultry, Sept. 6, 2015 Mike Vickers, D.V.M., Veterinary Profession, Sept. 6, 2017 Mark A. Wheelis, Equine, Sept. 6, 2013 Beau White, General Public, Sept. 6, 2015 R. W. “Dick” Winters Jr., Exotic Livestock/Fowl, Sept. 6, 2013