Advancing Animal Disease Traceability:

A Plan to Achieve Electronic Identification in Cattle and Bison

Animal disease traceability helps animal health officials know 

where diseased and at-risk animals are, where they’ve been, and 

when. This information is essential during a disease outbreak. 

USDA is currently working to strengthen its traceability system to

protect the long-term health, marketability and economic viability 

of the U.S. livestock industry. Achieving this goal is only possible 

through continued federal, state and industry collaboration. USDA 

is committed to keeping our partners informed about our plans and 

progress as we work together to build the traceability system.

While there are several steps USDA needs to take in order to 

strengthen its traceability system, the most essential one is to move 

from metal identification tags to electronic identification tags in 

beef and dairy cattle, as well as in bison. The electronic tags use 

radio frequency identification (RFID), which speeds information 

capture and sharing. 

RFID Benefits

The change to RFID will greatly enhance animal health officials’ 

ability to locate specific animals quickly during an outbreak. It 

might have taken weeks or months to determine which animals 

need to be tested using paper records, but with electronic 

identification (ID), it could be as short as a few hours. This helps 

producers by significantly reducing the number of animals 

involved in disease investigations. It will also help animal 

movements from affected areas happen more quickly – while still 

ensuring no one else receives exposed animals.

Implementing RFID

Beginning January 1, 2023, animals that move interstate and fall 

into specific categories will need official, individual RFID ear tags. 

This does not include feeder cattle. Under the current regulations 

feeder cattle as well as other cattle and bison that move directly to 

slaughter do not require individual identification. 

Animal and Plant

Health Inspection 

Service

April 2019

USDA understands producers need time 

to transition to RFID and has worked with 

the National Assembly of State Animal 

Health Officials to establish manageable 

milestones to achieve this goal. 

December 31, 2019

USDA will discontinue providing free metal 

tags. However, approved vendors will still 

be permitted to produce official metal tags 

for one additional year. Approved vendor 

tags will be available for purchase on a 

State-by-State basis as authorized by 

each State animal health official through 

December 31, 2020. 

January 1, 2021

USDA will no longer approve vendor 

production of metal ear tags with the 

official USDA shield. Accredited 

veterinarians and/or producers can no 

longer apply metal ear tags for official 

identification and must start using only 

Official RFID tags. 

January 1, 2023

RFID ear tags will be required for beef and 

dairy cattle and bison moving interstate 

that meet the above requirements. 

Animals previously tagged with metal ear 

tags will have to be retagged with RFID 

ear tags in order to move interstate. 

Feeder cattle and animals moving directly 

to slaughter are not subject to RFID 

requirements.

IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE
2

Animals that will require official, individual RFID tags include:

Beef Cattle & Bison Dairy Cattle

• sexually intact and 18 months or older • all female dairy cattle

• used for rodeo or recreational events (regardless of age) • all male dairy cattle born after March 11, 2013

• used for shows or exhibitions

RFID Ear Tag Specifications 

Beginning January 1, 2023, all cattle and bison that are required to have official identification under current 

regulations must have official RFID ear tags. When possible, the tags should be applied at the time of birth or 

before the animal moves off the farm in interstate commerce. 

Tag technology can be low or ultrahigh frequency—whichever the State, producer or industry sector prefers. Tags 

must be approved by USDA and meet standards for quality and performance, be tamper proof, contain a unique 

ID, and display the U.S. official ear tag shield. Tags can be part of a matched set with visual identification. RFID 

tags will be available to replace the orange, metal brucellosis tags. 

Transition Support

While electronic identification is critical for modernizing animal disease traceability, USDA understands this 

represents a big change for the industry and individual producers. Even though implementation of electronic 

identification is still several years away, USDA is committed to supporting producers as they transition from 

metal to RFID tags.

USDA will work with State animal health officials to share the cost of official RFID ear tags (instead of the free 

metal tags currently provided for cattle covered under the current regulation). This will reduce the cost that 

producers pay for RFID ear tags. USDA and State partners will also provide funding to support electronic readers 

for markets and accredited veterinarians as a critical component to implementing the electronic system.

As USDA modernizes its tagging system, we will also improve current State and Federal systems for official 

RFID tag distribution tracking, and record keeping. 

Getting Official RFID Ear Tags

A premises identification number (PIN) is required to purchase official ID tags. USDA has a new interactive map 

that helps direct producers to state-specific resources for obtaining a PIN: 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/traceability/state-pin/

States will approve and allocate discounted tags, managing the process through the current infrastructure. 

Accredited veterinarians may continue to inventory and apply official ID tags but must adhere to record keeping 

requirements.

USDA will maintain a list of approved manufacturers. Accredited veterinarians or producers may purchase 

official, approved tags directly from tag manufacturers or retailers. 

Other Official Identification

Brands and tattoos may still be accepted as official identification if both the shipping and receiving State or Tribal 

animal health authorities agree to accept the markings in place of RFID.

For More Information

If you have additional questions, please email: traceability@aphis.usda.gov