ADVANCING ADT:

ROAD MAP FOR

OHIO

A Three-Year Plan 

Submitted by: 

Dennis Summers, DVM, DACVPM

STATE VETERINARIAN

THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

8995 EAST MAIN STREET, REYNOLDSBURG, OH 43068 

614-728-6220

Submitted to:

SUSAN SKORUPSKI, D.V.M. 

AREA-VETERINARIAN-IN-CHARGE FOR OHIO

VETERINARY SERVICES

ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE 

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

12927 STONECREEK DRIVE, PICKERINGTON, OH 43147 

614-856-4735

June 3, 2022 
Table of Contents

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY....................................................................................................... 3

II. CURRENT TRACEABILITY SITUATION............................................................................ 4

II.1Who are we? ....................................................................................................................... 4

II.2Where are we now?............................................................................................................. 4

II.3Strengths and Weaknesses.................................................................................................. 7

II.4Opportunities and Threats................................................................................................... 8

II.5Inventory of existing infrastructure and suitability assessment.......................................... 8

III. VISION AND MISSION CONTEXT FOR ADVANCING TRACEABILITY..................... 10

III.1 .............................................................................................................................

Vision statement ............................................................................................................... 10

III.2 .............................................................................................................................

Mission statement ............................................................................................................. 10

IV. TRACEABILITY REQUIREMENTS .................................................................................... 10

IV.1..............................................................................................................................

Strategic goal(s) ............................................................................................................... 10

IV.2..............................................................................................................................

Programmatic goal(s) (Objectives) .................................................................................. 11

IV.3..............................................................................................................................

Animal Disease Traceability performance measures........................................................ 11

IV.4..............................................................................................................................

Data requirements............................................................................................................. 12

IV.5..............................................................................................................................

Information technology plan............................................................................................. 12

IV.6..............................................................................................................................

Resource requirements...................................................................................................... 13

IV.7..............................................................................................................................

Organizational needs......................................................................................................... 14

IV.7.1 Executive support.......................................................................................... 14

IV.7.2 Coordination and oversight procedures......................................................... 14

IV.7.3 Policy............................................................................................................. 14

IV.7.4 Staffing.......................................................................................................... 15

IV.7.5 Budget requirements ..................................................................................... 16

IV.7.6 Outreach ........................................................................................................ 17

IV.7.6.1 .................................................................................................

Accredited veterinarians................................................................... 17

IV.7.6.2 .................................................................................................

Slaughter Plants................................................................................ 18

IV.7.6.3 .................................................................................................

Industry as a whole........................................................................... 18

IV.8..............................................................................................................................

Monitoring and reporting interstate movement activity ................................................... 20

V. ADVANCING TRACEABILITY........................................................................................... 20

V.1Ranking of priorities for advancement ............................................................................. 20

V.2 Implementation of objectives............................................................................................ 22
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health is charged with 

protecting and promoting the health of Ohio’s livestock and poultry industries. In Ohio, we 

recognize the importance of being able to trace where diseased and at-risk animals are, and 

have been, as rapidly as possible to prevent additional animals from being exposed. We want 

to find the most efficient ways to capture the information and reduce the number of producers 

and animals who may be impacted when a disease incident occurs. Our ADT program 

includes cross cutting components from our state livestock dealer licensing and animal disease 

programs, including slaughter surveillance of Ohio livestock to maintain our consistent state 

and disease-free statuses. 

Ohio is rich in the variety of livestock industries active within our state including 

poultry, swine, beef, dairy, goats, and sheep. We work with stakeholders in adhering to the 

ADT regulations while trying to minimize impact on the speed of commerce. Ohio 

Department of Agriculture (ODA) and USDA Veterinary Services (VS) Ohio understand that 

not all livestock facilities are the same, and therefore monitoring at each may look different. 

However, the difficulty in minimizing the impact an animal disease may have is complicated

by three factors; the volume of livestock at facilities throughout the state, commingling of 

livestock from multiple sources, and the rapid movement of animal groups out of the 

concentration point to locations throughout the country. 

This ADT roadmap outlines our intended enhancement of our traceability infrastructure 

for the 2022-2025 timeline. Our priorities for advancing Ohio’s ADT program are discussed 

in further detail in section V of this roadmap. Should funding be approved Ohio aims to set 

up and secure a state Animal Disease Traceability Coordinator to enhance and oversee our 

ADT program. Such a position would allow for a more dedicated focus on advancing Ohio’s 

ADT program. Starting this year and building each sequential year Ohio plans to focus on 

promoting the use of RFID tags. Targeted industry groups include producers, county fairs, 

and our livestock markets. The planned focus of 2025 is improving and advancing the IT 

component of Ohio’s ADT program. Ohio is aware this is a component of our ADT program 

that needs to be strengthened. Our ADT working group has already reached out to other states 

to help gain insight on how this portion of our program can be improved upon. Having an 

ADT coordinator would provide an invaluable driving force to implement needed 

improvements. We are committed to improving our data capturing methods as well as data 

sharing abilities to rapidly identify the origin of diseased livestock along with any location 

exposed animals may have been moved. We plan to continue our monitoring of livestock 

facilities to improve compliance and streamline the application of official identification and 

movement documentation. Our focus of all activities will be to ensure that animals are 

officially identified as required, that they move interstate with required documentation, and 

that the identification devices are removed and/or recorded at termination points as required. 

We will continue to partner with our livestock marketing stakeholders in identifying critical 

points in their systems and developing improvements that will make our state traceability 

better. 
II. CURRENT TRACEABILITY SITUATION 

2.1 Who are we? 

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) and the United States 

Department of Agriculture-Animal Plant Health Inspection Service-Veterinary 

Services Ohio office (VS-Ohio) are the primary constituents tasked with 

implementing animal disease traceability in the State of Ohio. We often work in 

conjunction with several external entities to ensure that traceability is achieved. 

Some of the external constituents include: other divisions within ODA (i.e., 

Meat Inspection and Dairy), USDA-Food Safety Inspection Service, county 4-H 

extension offices, livestock markets/auctions, and state industry/commodity 

organizations (i.e., Ohio Cattlemen’s Association and Ohio Poultry 

Association). The groups listed above will work in a collaborative manner to 

ensure that livestock moving into and out of the state of Ohio will be compliant 

with Animal Disease Traceability requirements. 

Traceability has the capability to make a distinct difference in our ability 

to quickly identify and respond to an animal disease emergency, and therefore 

positively affect the industries that we serve. Traceability data allows ODA and 

VS-Ohio to efficiently and effectively manage reportable and program diseases. 

Testing history and farm/herd/flock statuses can readily be found using 

available databases that collect traceability data. In addition to the everyday 

activities that are conducted within ODA and VS Ohio, including monitoring 

compliance with Ohio’s Dealer Law (ORC 943), traceability data can influence 

policy and trade practices; and plays a vital role in interstate and international 

export. 

Animal disease traceability is a priority for ODA and VS-Ohio, and we 

will continue to work together to advance our position on this national issue. 

An internal working group, consisting of ODA and VS-Ohio personnel, has 

been formed and is currently meeting regularly to discuss ways to promote 

RFID tags, provide support to our newly designated tag distributors, create 

relationships with other state ADT staff, conceptualize ways to improve and 

advance Ohio’s ADT program and make necessary revisions to the ADT 

Roadmap. 

2.2 Where are we now? 

Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) is defined as the ability to track 

animal movements using business and animal marketing records and 

identification. Traceability is measured by the accuracy, specificity, and speed 

in being able to determine movements of diseased, exposed or at-risk animals, 

in an effort to minimize the number of producers included in a disease 

investigation. Several of the standards set forth by disease programs like 

brucellosis, scrapie, and tuberculosis combined with the Animal Disease 

Traceability (ADT) requirements, and the Ohio livestock dealer licensing 
program and import regulations, provide parameters that help us measure 

progress. Many of Ohio’s disease programs and regulations work hand in hand 

supporting ADT regulations and goals. While the desired end result is meeting 

the requirements, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), Division of 

Animal Health is continually looking to improve the way we capture ADT 

pertinent information into an accessible electronic format. 

Coordination in Ohio is based on our working relationship with our area 

APHIS Veterinary Services staff. Joint communication and coordination occur 

routinely between Ohio’s Assistant State Veterinarian, Agriculture Inspection 

Manager, Animal Identification Coordinator (AIC) and federal Epidemiologist 

to monitor policies and activities of both state and federal field staff. The State 

Veterinarian and Area Veterinarian in Charge provide valuable oversight in all 

disease trace-back or trace-forward investigations. Monitoring of auction 

markets, exhibitions, and dealer activities occurs seamlessly between our state 

and federal personnel. Ohio’s 88 counties are divided amongst both state and 

federal employees with the majority of work (regardless of being state or federal 

run programs) being performed by the Veterinary Medical Officer (VMO) and 

Animal Health Technician (AHT) assigned to that county. 

Presently we perform regular monitoring of livestock movements through 

marketing channels, market/dealer record audits, Scrapie snapshots, TB traces, 

and rendering and slaughter plant inspections to assess compliance with the 

ADT regulations. We check to ensure records and official Identification are 

present to allow traceability in the event of a disease concern or situation. 

Priority is placed for personnel to be in attendance at regular market sale days 

and other points of commingling. This allows for not only monitoring activities 

to check for compliance, but also provides the platform to educate market 

personnel and livestock dealers in recognizing when official ID and movement 

documentation are required. 

Normal business hours for ODA and VS are from 8:00-5:00 Monday 

through Friday. There is an emergency “on call” system in place though if trace 

information is needed outside of normal hours. 

During the past few years we have revamped our ADT working group. 

The primary focus of the working group has been the promotion and 

distribution of the free RFID tags provided by USDA for replacement cattle. 

The group has worked to set up several of Ohio’s industry stakeholders, such as 

Ohio Cattleman’s and Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) as tag distributers. This 

allows these commodity groups to have more direct access to the intended 

recipients of these tags and more efficiently distribute these tags. Tag 

applicators were purchased with supplemental ADT funding and those are also 

being distributed to help producers apply the free RFID tags and reduce the 

extra out of pocket cost associated with applying these tags. From July1, 2021 

until March 31, 2022 ODA has distributed approximately 12,660 RFID tags to 

producers and accredited veterinarians. Tags distributed directly from the 
warehouse and tags distributed by Ohio’s tag distributers would be in addition 

to this. 15,000 tags have been designated to our current tag distributers during 

this time frame. We expect this number to continue to grow as Ohio’s tag 

distributers refine their promotion and distribution of RFID tags to producers

and as Ohio continues to promote the availability of RFID tags.

 

ODA’s IT structure consists of multiple databases, electronic 

spreadsheets, and utilization of software programs- primarily USAHerds. 

Starting in 2015, data from Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVIs), TB test 

records, and Brucellosis test records and vaccination certificates began getting 

entered into the USAHerds database. Individual official IDs along with scans or 

uploads of the electronic certificates, statements and test records are also being 

recorded in USAHerds. This database is capable of locating an animal entered 

into the system and can also generate numerous reports that are beneficial when 

the need to trace animal movements or events/sightings occurs. A separate 

access database is used to capture TB testing response rates by accredited 

veterinarians. 

We also utilize excel spreadsheets to record distribution of health 

certificates, and distribution of official identification tags to accredited 

veterinarians, approved tagging sites, and producers. The state uses the national 

premise allocator (through USA Herds) to assign state premise identification 

numbers to everyone who requests to receive official ID tags. Accredited 

veterinarians report further distribution of official ID tags to the state office 

within 7 days of the transfer. Challenges we face getting these distributed tags 

entered into Animal Identification Management System (AIMS) include lack of 

human resources to enter the data and the fact that official tags distributed 

directly from the Kansas City National warehouse to accredited veterinarians or 

ODA are not automatically present in the AIMS system. To date, our capturing 

of this additional distribution in AIMS is impeded by the fact that NUES tag 

shipments from the Kansas City National warehouse to accredited veterinarians 

or ODA are not automatically present in the AIMS system. All new 

veterinarian accounts being created in the warehouse system are being 

submitted with assigned premise ID to enable AIMS entry.

In an effort to help encourage accredited veterinarians to utilize electronic 

CVI platforms ODA started implementing a fee for hardcopy animal health 

certificate booklets in October of 2021. We took several measures to make 

veterinarians aware of this change as well as encouraging the utilization of 

electronic Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (eCVIs) including participating 

in OVMA’s Fully Vetted Series podcast and production of a video shared on 

ODA’s YouTube page. This video explained the implemented fee, encouraged 

utilization of electronic CVIs, explained the importance and relevance of eCVIs 

in regard to ADT and demonstrated how to fill out an electronic CVI. At this 

time we also started collecting data on how many paper health certificate 
booklets were being ordered. This will allow us to see if our efforts create the 

desired effect of decreased hardcopy paper booklets ordered and increased 

utilization of eCVIs. Currently, with every large animal CVI booklet ordered 

ODA sends handouts that remind veterinarians of the requirements of sending 

in hard copy paper CVIs and a document listing the benefits of eCVI utilization 

and the various platforms that are available to Ohio accredited veterinarians.

Federal funding has a direct impact on how Ohio can advance its animal 

disease traceability activities. With budgetary restraints, it is challenging to 

complete the needed data entry without people in positions to carry-out these 

duties. Additional funding and resources would significantly aide in Ohio’s 

ability to move our ADT program forward. Furthermore, as discussed in 

section V in more detail, securing an ODA ADT coordinator position would 

provide a resource that would more collectively unify and advance Ohio’s ADT 

program efforts. We have made progress with promoting and distributing RFID 

tags but would like to continue this momentum. Additional funding and 

resources to aide in integrating RFID tags and technology into other animal 

industry sectors such as county fairs would prove to be beneficial as there is an 

interest already present and in doing so would preemptively engage some of 

Ohio’s future producers with RFID technology.

2.3 Strengths and Weaknesses 

Strengths 

• Dealer law allows enhanced traceability efforts through required 

licensing, audits, and inspections 

• State Meat, Dairy, and Food Safety Inspection Programs 

• Strong Extension/4-H programs and history of cooperation with State 

and Federal 

• Interaction with Colleges of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, 

and Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center 

• Interaction with OVMA, Ohio Dairy Veterinarians Group, and Ohio 

Pork Producers Council 

• USAHerds, USA LIMS, eCVIs, mCVIs, and other IT systems 

available 

• Animal agriculture contributes $109 billion to State’s economy 

• Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Division and 

Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory co-located 

• Interaction with Ohio Poultry Association through work with Ohio

Egg Quality Assurance Program 

• ORC/OAC laws in place 

• MOU between USDA, ODA, and GIPSA

• Cooperation/collaboration between ODA & USDA 

• ODA implemented fees for paper-CVI's, which has increased eCVI 

utilization
Weaknesses 

• Limited personnel resources to monitor animal movements

• Limited personnel to enter ADT data

• No fulltime ADT Coordinator for State 

• Some accredited veterinarians still using paper-based CVIs and very 

limited IT usage, such as RFID or MIMS. 

• No mandatory ID or record keeping requirements for intrastate 

movement, except for sheep and goats 

• Lack of resources to supply and distribute RFIDs and other official 

IDs 

• Voluntary premises registration 

• Data/information sharing difficulties due to a lack of IT portal 

between State and Federal systems

• Insufficient office space for ODA personnel

2.4 Opportunities and Threats 

Opportunities 

• Standardize inspection and enforcement 

• Increase animal marketability for OH producers 

• Increase cooperation and collaboration with industry 

• Increase use of currently available technologies 

• Quickly identify ownership of displaced animals 

• Improve data sharing between states and stakeholders 

Threats 

• Swap meets, sales (including internet/virtual) and exhibitions 

• Turnover of personnel within cooperator and stakeholder groups 

• Non-compliant animal movements 

• Complex or unorthodox movements 

• Movements without proper documentation (CVIs, OSS’s or permits) 

and/or identification 

• Incomplete distribution of required documentation to State 

• Variable state import requirements 

• Unidentified displaced animals 

• Insufficient knowledge of identification and animal movement 

requirements 

• Lack of acceptance for purchase and use of RFID tags on the farm 

before animals are moved as best practice. Economics of purchasing 

the tags and infrastructure are frequently cited as a barrier. 

2.5 Inventory of existing infrastructure and suitability assessment 

Human resources 
• The following office positions have some responsibility within 

animal traceability: Asst. State Veterinarian, Ag Inspection Mgr., 

Business Opr. Mgr, (2) Licensure Examiner, and Customer Service 

Asst. 

• The following ODA, Animal Health field staff positions: (4) 

Veterinary Administrators and (8) Animal Health Inspectors (AHI/ 

AHT). 

• The following USDA, APHIS, VS field staff positions: (5) 

Veterinarians, (1) Epidemiology Officer (position currently vacant)

(2) Animal Health Technicians and (1) Animal Identification 

Coordinator. 

Organization of all existing paper record systems used to access animal 

disease traceability or animal health information 

• Information from CVIs is being entered, scanned and uploaded into 

USAHerds. Currently a large volume of traceability data, including 

premises, ICVI, state-disease program data, is contained within 

USAHerds. Official disease work including brucellosis and 

tuberculosis test data and official vaccination data is entered and held 

in USAHerds. Traceability data can be uploaded into USAHerds 

when provided to ODA from outside sources. Data can also be 

exported out of USAHerds for dissemination to necessary agencies 

and officials. Prior to implementation of this system (USAHerds 

began in October 2013) paper copies were retained for 2 yrs and filed 

by the month they were received. The current year was kept in the 

office and the previous year stored off site. 

• Animal and TB test information is being entered into USAHerds to 

identify the farm on which the animal was tested. TB test charts are 

kept in house for a minimum of 5 years. Paper charts are filed 

alphabetically by owners name and year. 

• Brucellosis test charts are stored in the ADDL USALims data base. A 

paper copy is scanned and attached to the accession pertaining to the 

testing completed. This information is kept for a minimum of 3 years. 

• Brucellosis vaccination certificates are stored on site for 7 years. All 

information on these certificates is captured by entering into 

USAHerds. 

• Animal identification application and distribution records kept for a 

minimum of 5 years. 

Computerized data management capability, including present storage size, 

speed, security, etc. 

• Data is captured via USAHerds & USALims. Current storage space is 

adequate to maintain this information. 
• ODAs IT security is composed of a watch guard perimeter firewall. 

• All data stored on ODA servers is backed-up nightly on site and 

backed up bi-weekly offsite. 

Automated data capture capability 

• ODA currently has the ability to automatically capture data for 

samples tested at ADDL only. 

• Data from electronic CVI’s transfers into USAHerds. 

III. VISION AND MISSION CONTEXT FOR ADVANCING TRACEABILITY 

3.1 Vision Statement 

The mission of the Ohio Department of Agriculture is to protect Ohio 

citizens by ensuring the safety of the state’s food supply, to maintain the 

health of Ohio’s animals and plant life, and to create economic 

opportunities for Ohio’s farmers, food processors and agribusinesses. 

3.2 Mission Statement 

Protecting the Health of Livestock and Poultry: The Division of 

Animal Health is charged with protecting and promoting the health of 

Ohio's livestock and poultry industries. Responsibilities include livestock 

and poultry testing and inspection, licensing, controlling animal diseases 

in Ohio, and providing veterinary diagnostic laboratory services. In 

addition, the division is responsible for supervision of the exhibition 

livestock testing. The ODA Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory 

(ADDL) is accredited by the American Association of Veterinary 

Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD). The laboratory provides credible 

results, which assist veterinarians and producers in herd health 

management and enhance the global marketability of Ohio's livestock. 

IV. TRACEABILITY REQUIREMENTS

4.1 Strategic Goals 

• To implement, promote, and enhance a State-wide infrastructure for 

advancing animal disease traceability compatible with State of Ohio 

and USDA standards. 

• Increase the use of eCVI technology and reduce paper CVI’s used 

in Ohio 

• Increase the use of electronic ID tags for animals requiring 

individual identification in order to make the transmission of data 

more efficient. Also increase the use of RFID technology in the 

animal industries to increase efficiency and accuracy of records.

• Enhance the ability to track animals from birth to slaughter.
4.2 Programmatic Goals (Objectives) 

• Create a position that would oversee Ohio’s ADT program; an 

Ohio ADT coordinator

• Continue outreach & education with an emphasis on utilization of 

RFID technology, promoting the availability of free RFID tags for 

replacement cattle while available

• Support and encourage utilization of RFID technology and RFID 

tags at animal concentration points such as Ohio’s county fairs and 

livestock auctions 

• Continue to seek out and create relationships with industry 

stakeholders that may prove to be ideal tag distributors. Support our 

current stakeholders that are designated tag distributors. 

• Continue applying policy strategies to reduce paper CVI use and 

promote eCVI utilization

• Consistent implementation of ADT standards 

• Consistent enforcement of ADT standards 

• Increased data input efficiency utilizing ODA’s current IT systems 

• Increased cooperation/collaboration amongst state ADT 

coordinators 

4.3 Animal Disease Traceability Performance Measures 

Traceability Performance Measures (TPM) activities involve 

officially identified cattle and are chosen from a variety of sources 

including CVIs, test charts, brucellosis vaccination records, actual traces 

that were received from other states, and cattle sighted at livestock 

concentration points (within Ohio and outside of Ohio). 

When possible, out of state official IDs are forwarded to the state of 

origin, in order that they may use the ID to fulfill one of their TPM 

quota’s. 

TPM activities are initiated by ADT staff after coordinating that ODA 

personnel are available to work on the performance measure since these 

activities are timed. We follow the outlined process established by the 

ADT staff in effort to have consistent measures nationally. The length of 

time spent on a specific TPM and whether the trace is successfully 

completed is recorded. Ohio’s results are provided to us and we are able 

to compare them to results of other participating states but individual state 

results are no longer being provided. For the previous two years (2020 

and 2021) the average the time for Ohio to complete a TPM was 0.26 

hours. Ohio has consistently been at or faster than average on the time it 

takes for us to complete our TPM activities.
There are currently four TPM activities used nationally to test each 

state’s ability to trace applied official ID and animal movement records. 

State quotas for the number of each TPM to perform, were set based on 

the cattle population within the state. TPM activities 1 and 2 involve 

tracing the official Identification device distribution records; while TPM 

activities 3 and 4 involve tracing the animal movement records. The 

focuses of each of the four TPM activities are listed below.

 In what State was an imported animal officially identified? 

 Where in your state was the animal officially identified? 

 From what state was an animal shipped? 

 From what location in your state was an exported animal shipped? 

ODA will report any compliance issue related to the tracing of 

TPM exercises to the OH AVIC to be included in the VS quarterly ADT 

Enforcement Action Summary Report

4.4 Data requirements

Details on how Ohio acquires, organizes, stores, retrieves and uses ADT 

data has already been discussed in sections 2.2 and 2.5. Also discussed in 

section 2.2 is Ohio’s recent introduction of a fee for hardcopy CVIs. Ohio 

accepts CVIs and Owner Shipper Statements (OSS) for interstate animal 

movement documents and generally NUES and RFID for official ear tag 

identification. Ohio permits swine movement in accordance with OAC 

901:1-17-09. See Ohio’s import rule: Chapter 901:1-17 - Ohio 

Administrative Code | Ohio Laws

Data will be shared/ provided to other States, Tribes, Territories and USDA 

upon request. 

4.5 Information technology plan

Ohio’s broad goal is continual progression towards automating or digitizing 

much of the ADT activities performed by office and field staff. Specific 

objectives include:

• Develop and implement electronic-based systems for health 

documents (I.e., TB, Brucellosis, EIA, etc.). 

• Develop and plan for a forward-facing portal for use by industry and 

accredited veterinarians to submit regulatory forms, test charts, 

applications for license, secure online payment, etc. as part of the 

long term plan for ADT and IT. 

• Develop and deliver information systems improvements to digitize 

the records created and delivered to program staff from field 

activities (I.e., NOV’s, dealer records, dealer audit documents, etc.).
• Develop and deliver information systems improvement to enhance 

digital applications for licenses and records sharing and 

upload/download for ADT and Livestock Dealer activity, such as 

dealer sales records, animal movement records, animal 

identification records, bills of sale, etc.

o Benefits to the above listed objectives include:

 reduced numbers of paper documents processed by 

ODA

 Increased processing efficiency by staff

 Improved data management by reducing time spend 

manually transcribing data into USAHERDS

 Increased data accuracy and reduced clerical or 

legibility errors, which promotes traceability

 Reduced transit time for dealer records delivery to 

program staff and reduced time and resources spent 

by field staff driving and performing lowproductivity work in order to acquire records

If Ohio secures a state ADT coordinator, their knowledge and expertise, as 

well as the relationships they would form with other states, could provide 

valuable insight in how Ohio can enhance and more efficiently utilize our 

USAHerds program.

4.6 Resource requirements

The greatest resource Ohio needs in order to implement the roadmap is a 

state ADT coordinator position. Securing this resource will in turn help 

precipitate additional goals and objectives outlined in the roadmap. An 

ADT coordinator would spearhead moving Ohio’s ADT program forward. 

A well-qualified and knowledgeable person would be able to enhance and 

coordinate our education efforts, provide training to our current field staff 

and most importantly improve our data capture and storage techniques. 

While we have several staff members that are knowledgeable and 

responsible for components of Ohio’s ADT program we lack the single 

source person to coordinate our efforts. Recently our ADT working group 

members have reached out to other states to gain insight and ideas on 

improving our ADT program; a state coordinator could continue to build 

and strengthen those relationships and others. There are a plethora of 

resources available and a coordinator would be able to singularly focus on 

utilizing those to improve Ohio’s ADT program. 

There is some cross training and overlap of responsibility when it comes to 

ADT related tasks but we do not have a strong continuing operation plan in 

place. A state coordinator would again provide benefit with a COOP. If a 

central person was knowledgeable and capable of all components of our 
ADT program and several field and office staff were trained and performing 

various individual parts of the program then we would have the added 

protection of at least 2 people at minimum being familiar with any given 

aspect of Ohio’s ADT program.

4.7 Organizational needs

Continuing with the resurfacing need for a state coordinator; there would be 

dramatic benefit to having a single central person leading our ADT efforts. 

Currently our ADT program spreads the responsibilities over several office 

and field staff. While this current organizational style has been in place for 

many years attempting to support Ohio’s ADT program- having a 

coordinator would increase efficiency and allow for greater forward 

progression.

4.7.1 Executive support

Current executive authorities are aware of the importance of ADT 

and support the efforts made to improve Ohio’s ADT program. 

Administrative authorities are updated with any major 

accomplishments of the ADT working group and are frequently 

included in meetings to discuss improvement strategies for the 

program.

4.7.2 Coordination and oversight procedures

Ohio can improve the coordination and oversight of ADT 

procedures with the implementation of an ADT coordinator. Ohio 

does not have an ADT advisory group. Currently any brainstorming 

and executing ideas to improve ADT measures is being conducted 

by the ADT working group. These tasks are in addition to their 

routine field and office duties. Plans are then presented to the State 

and Assistant State Veterinarians and the AVIC for feedback. 

Feedback is also gathered from field staff if appropriate. While the 

working group does meet regularly it is inconsistent and dependent 

on present situation and workload. Members of the working group 

have started to look at other state’s ADT programs and created

relationships with those personnel. Discussions have uncovered 

several ways Ohio could improve our ADT program. 

4.7.3 Policy

Ohio’s ADT policies align with the ADT general standards 

document and traceability goals. The close working relationship 

and coordination between our state and federal field and office staff 

helps promote aligning policies. See links for more specifics on 

Ohio’s applicable regulations: Chapter 941 - Ohio Revised Code | Ohio 

Laws and Chapter 943 - Ohio Revised Code | Ohio Laws 
• By implementing policy at ODA (2021) to apply fees for 

paper CVI booklets, OH created a shift and increase in eCVI 

use, aligning with ADT general standards

• ODA plans to develop policy to develop and deliver 

electronic information systems, forcing producers and 

licensees to use these systems to promote agency objectives 

and ADT goals

4.7.4 Staffing

• Currently we have 4-5 office staff, 4 field veterinarians, and 

8 animal health inspectors working directly with ADT in 

various aspects. 

• Various qualifications of staff are needed. Those in the 

office are trained in USAHERDS and database management. 

Field staff are trained in regulations regarding proper ID and 

have necessary knowledge of the industry and relationships 

to move ADT forward. 

• To best implement the current plan and future goals of ADT 

in Ohio a state ADT Coordinator is vital for an organized 

and cohesive effort. The current office staff and field 

personnel will still implement various aspects. 

• Many human resources are currently being leveraged to 

carry out the ADT plan and this ability has reached capacity. 

All of the current resources are also tasked with many other 

functions and coordination and efficiency are needed for the 

overall effort and IT management. 

• Professional credentials and certification are not an issue 

currently. Training in various programs and regulations as 

well as proper onboarding of new staff is necessary for 

continued success. 

• Job description for the ADT coordinator position is in 

progress with input from similar positions in other states and 

the needs that we know we have in Ohio. The job 

descriptions for the current supporting roles include the ADT 

duties that are assigned. 

• ADT information is an add-on “coordinated by committee” 

basis currently. Various aspects of Ohio’s ADT program are 

accomplished by several staff members. While we can 

manage our ADT program in this manner Ohio is aware that 

efforts could be more cohesive and feel that could be 

achieved with an ADT state coordinator. Such a position 

would be able to focus solely on Ohio’s ADT program and 

in doing so be able to move the efforts and goals of ADT 

within the state forward. Primary goals include those 

determined by this plan with input from supervisors and 

field/office staff. 
4.7.5 Budget requirements

Ohio receives federal financial support through the ADT 

cooperative agreement. While this money helps fund Ohio’s ADT 

program, it falls short of covering the expenses incurred from 

baseline ADT activities performed by office and field staff. Ohio’s 

current ADT award does not even fully cover the duties performed 

by one office staff member. Remaining ADT responsibilities are 

funded by State dollars, which strains the current budget for ODA’s 

Animal Health Division. The ADT agreement (FY22) shows state 

contributions to be in excess of $97,000 dollars, with APHIS 

contributing $87,991 dollars. ODA will see a reduction in state 

budget dollars for FY 23 by 2.9%, equating to ~$156,000.00 dollars. 

Ohio has requested additional ADT money to fund a state ADT 

coordinator position along with additional resources such as RFID 

readers to be loaned to county fairs. See section 5.1 below for more 

details.

As mentioned, ODA is currently facing a 2.9% reduction in General 

Revenue Fund in FY23. This reduction will necessitate the sacrifice 

of several things including funds currently used for ADT initiatives 

(in-kind costs). Ohio does not want to lose ground in the recent 

forward progression of our ADT program. For ADT FY 23, ODA 

requested an additional award of $9000.00 in federal support to 

maintain current operations, plans, and program support due to this 

2.9% reduction in state GRF funds. This additionally helps maintain 

support for current AHI and VMO salaries and mileage to support 

and learn about ADT efforts. ODA also requested an additional 

award of $149,350.00 towards staff and salary support for a fulltime ADT State Coordinator. 

In order to support the interest of RFID technology use in Ohio’s 

county fairs we have estimated the need of $32,250.00 for the 

purchase of forty (40) wand readers for use in the fair sector and 

$1000.00 for hardware support (laptops, tablets, etc.) to enhance 

ADT activities. 

Further integrating RFID technology in selected Ohio livestock 

markets with the installation of two panel RFID readers we are 

estimating $26,160.00 for the cost of those devices.

Ohio has focused on promoting and distributing the free RFID tags 

available for replacement cattle by the federal movement. In all of 

our endeavors regarding the RFID tags we have discovered the 

interest and need for RFID tags not limited to replacement cattle. 

An additional $50,000.00 to support the cost of purchasing RFID 

tags for uses other than replacement cattle, such as swine, county 

fairs, etc. would prove beneficial to moving Ohio’s ADT programmore specifically the integration of RFID technology- forward. 

Additional funding will be required to make improvements to Ohio’s IT component to our ADT 

program. It requires time and money to move from a primarily paper-based data system to one 
that is more electronic and automated in nature. While we may never be able to be completely 

paperless it is a good step to be able to provide electronic versions of any ADT related forms/ 

heath papers. Automating field and dealer activities and records will require further 

supplemental funding.

4.7.6 Outreach 

4.7.6.1. Accredited veterinarians

Accredited veterinarians play an important role in 

regard to animal disease traceability. It is imperative 

that we keep them informed of any changing 

guidelines or regulations involving ADT. Through 

our partners at USDA we have access to an email and 

mailing listserv containing Ohio’s accredited 

veterinarians. We are able to notify accredited 

veterinarians by that method. With the 

implementation of a purchase fee for our large 

animal health certificates we also send out a few 

handouts with the certificates that remind 

veterinarians of their responsibility to submit CVIs

in a timely manner and encourage utilization of 

eCVIs and some different software platform options. 

There has been discussion about the availability of a 

new and free eCVI software program. Once that 

program is available, we will make efforts to notify 

Ohio’s accredited veterinarians. For the past couple 

of years ODA’s field veterinarians have had a 

presence at a variety of conferences including the 

Midwest Veterinary Conference held annually in 

Columbus. At this conference and others, we have 

the opportunity to talk with veterinarians one on one, 

answer questions, inform them of any pertinent 

changes, and provide handouts. ODA’s 

Communication department has collaborated with 

several other departments including our Animal 

Health division to spread information via podcasts, 

social media, and videos uploaded to a YouTube 

channel. This provides an additional outlet for 

outreach and education. To monitor a veterinarian’s 

ability to quickly provide information from a tag they 

distributed in the event of a disease outbreak ODA

has started performing mock tag trace exercises with 

tags that were distributed to accredited veterinarians. 

During these exercises veterinarian clinics are 

contacted and asked to provide information on a tag 
that was distributed to them. If they are unable to do 

so then recommendations are made to improve their 

record keeping of tags distributed from their clinic. 

Veterinarians do provide a vital role in ensuring that 

animals receiving health certificates or being tested 

for regulatory diseases are properly identified; their 

role in providing tags cannot be undervalued. 

Veterinarians also provide a good resource to 

producers for information about ADT and its

importance as well RFID tag and technology use. 

Animal ID/ traceability is part of the National 

Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP) core 

orientation for graduating veterinarians. Both ODA 

and USDA VS staff presents the NVAP material to 

both DVM students and practitioners. There is an 

entire section that focuses on ADT. In 2021 14

courses were taught, with 192 practitioners in 

attendance and 140 veterinary students involved.

4.7.6.2. Slaughter plants

Slaughter facilities in Ohio are routinely visited 

during Blood Tissue Collection (BTC) inspections 

and reporting. Discussion and review of animal 

movement and identification can occur during these 

visits. These visits also allow us to continue to 

initiate and foster the relationships the agencies 

have with slaughter facilities. 

4.7.6.3. Industry as a whole

Ohio does not have an ADT advisory committee. 

As mentioned in an earlier section, our working 

group is primarily responsible for orchestrating 

outreach activities. We rely on various methods to 

reach out to Industry including in person meetings/ 

outreach, virtual meetings, email, mailings, website, 

and even social media. Currently species specific 

movement documents along with other ADT 

information can be found on ODA’s website. 

However, there is room for improvement as the 

information may not be considered easy to find by 

many. Ohio’s collaboration with USDA VS- Ohio 
and the other entities described in section 2.1 

provides many resource opportunities to Industry. 

For Producers

• ODA & USDA staff are available to attend 

meetings to facilitate outreach to stakeholders upon 

invitation 

• We can have a booth at the Farm Science Review, 

and handouts can be made available at the Ohio 

Quarter Horse Congress, the Ohio Dairy Expo, the 

Ohio Beef Expo, the Ohio Swine Health 

Symposium, and other venues in Ohio 

• The importance of ADT will continue to be 

emphasized at commodity meetings and through 

appropriate committees such as small ruminant, 

cervid, swine health, cattle health and others 

• Ohio industry includes all livestock species, as 

well as equine, cervid & camelids 

• Continue to disseminate ADT information, such 

as where producers can acquire tags- through ODA 

or their Accredited Veterinarian (AV)

• Continue to encourage and facilitate premises 

registration 

• USDA/ODA field personnel can make contact and 

provide handouts to fair boards, Beef Quality 

Assurance (BQA) meetings, cattle shows, grazing 

conferences, and veterinary clinics. 

For Livestock Markets and Dealers

• Auction markets and concentration yards are 

licensed as dealers in Ohio 

• Continue efforts in registering markets and dealers 

as official tagging sites 

• ODA & USDA AHTs & VMOs routinely visit to 

discuss and review animal movements and ID 

• Continual records review and audits of animal 

movements and ID 

• Continual communication with managers & 

employees regarding ADT requirements

• Joint ODA/USDA meetings are held regularly to 

ensure established oversight procedures (such as the 
market inspection checklist) are being conducted 

consistently 

• All of Ohio’s markets are tagging sites, therefore 

increased education is conducted at these facilities 

and for the employees in regard to animal movement 

and ID responsibilities 

• ADT information is posted at these facilities 

• Meet with dealers and markets with updated ADT 

info. 

For Undeserved Communities

• May utilize OSU Extension (The Ohio State 

University Extension) and Ohio Farm Bureau 

Federation (OFBF) to assist with information 

dissemination

• May utilize small farm conferences to assist with 

information dissemination

4.8. Monitoring and reporting interstate movement activity 

Movement documents, such as CVIs and Owner Shipper Statements 

(OSS) are required to be provided to the Department within 7 days of 

issuance. Import and Export ICVIs and OSS are monitored by office staff 

and numbers reported in our ADT workbook each quarter. Compliance 

issues and number of movement documents that need to be corrected or 

returned are reported in the workbook as well. Tag types, total numbers, 

and destination types that are distributed are also reported in our ADT 

workbook each quarter. 

V. ADVANCING TRACEABILITY 

5.1 Ranking of priorities for advancement

Ohio’s first priority for advancing our ADT program would be to secure a 

state Animal Disease Traceability coordinator position. We have several 

people that are knowledgeable about individual pieces of our ADT program 

but not one single point person, and it is quite clear this is necessary to move 

our program forward. This position would be responsible for planning, 

administering, educating, and further energizing our efforts. Ideally

someone with an IT or data management background and animal health 

knowledge would be best suited to coordinate our efforts. This person 
would work with all facets of the ADT program and guide the team that is 

already in place with ODA Animal Health and USDA Veterinary Services 

to further our goals. An ADT coordinator would be able to help train our 

field staff regarding RFID technology and provide education and outreach 

to various stakeholders in the industry- producers, veterinarians, markets, 

fairs, etc. Without this coordinated effort we find that we are able to make 

small progresses but lack the overall flow that is necessary to achieve the 

degree of progress that we desire. 

Secondly, our efforts continue to be focused on getting more tags placed in 

animals and we seek to do that with RFID tags for ease and efficiency of 

reading and recording information. We are diligently working to phase out 

metal NUES tags in favor of RFID tags with the focus on our many livestock 

markets (that are handling large numbers of calves) and through 

encouragement of use by producers. Ohio is working to supply auction 

markets with RFID tags for replacement cattle to introduce and showcase 

this technology; along with those efforts we would also like to install two 

panel RFID readers in two of our markets. With our livestock market 

presence, we expose many producers to the capabilities and usefulness of 

the technology in real time. In turn, our database can use the data to be 

generated from these sources to much better understand how, when and 

where animals are moving in our state and beyond.

In looking to other states that have successful ADT programs we realize 

RFID tags must be available and in use for the rest of the pieces of the puzzle 

to work. This requires us to have and distribute the tags, reach out to 

producers, veterinarians and animal concentration points, and support them 

in applying the tags. We must promote this technology to various groups 

and meet them where they are. Ohio county fairs are very interested and 

willing to adopt this technology and we would like to support this effort 

with the ability to loan out equipment and in some cases staffing to assist. 

Ohio supports 95 county and independent fairs through the summer and fall 

months. ODA would like to purchase numerous wand readers and 

supporting devices to provide on loan to the county fairs. There are many 

opportunities for RFID technology to be utilized within the fair sector. With 

focus on fairs and youth we are very much planting seeds for the producers 

of tomorrow to be familiar and educated about the technology. In order to 

provide support to our markets and fairs and to demonstrate the true value 

of RFID technology our field staff needs additional training and education 

to be experts in these topics. They will then be more equipped to share 

knowledge on RFID technology and troubleshoot potential issues. 

Thirdly, Ohio would like to focus on improving and refining the IT 

component of our ADT program. Specifically, we would like to enhance 

electronic data sharing, increase the ADT data we are capturing and 

streamline its integration into our existing software programs, as well as

update the capabilities of our USAHerds program. There are many 
opportunities to increase utilization of electronic formatting and submission 

of health documents, regulatory forms, license applications and other

documents and records. See goals described in section 4.5. An ODA ADT 

coordinator that is knowledgeable in the IT field has the potential to 

significantly improve Ohio’s IT component of our ADT program and take 

it to the next level. Enhancing electronic sharing of data requires that we 

not only capture the pertinent data but also put it in a useful form that is 

readily available. To be able to set an alert for a particular ID or find within 

a few keystrokes the most recent location of a particular ID could stop many 

contagious diseases in their tracks. It is not enough to identify the animals 

and record the location, time and date but this information must be available 

and in a useful form exactly when needed. Equipment as well as data 

management and data movement is vital to this goal. Ohio plans policy 

change to require livestock markets to flow animal movement data into 

USAHERDS. We aim to provide a forward-facing user portal for 

veterinarians, producers and industry to directly import data as well. This 

will improve efficiency and accuracy dramatically. 

5.2 Implementation of objectives

Resounding with what has already been presented, Ohio seeks to request 

additional ADT funding to obtain an ADT state coordinator. Securing such 

a position is crucial to providing a supportive base on which Ohio can 

continue to build our ADT program and is our highest priority. If the 

request for additional funding to cover the salary of $149, 350 is approved 

then Ohio can start the process of creating and then posting the position of 

an ADT coordinator. Once the position is filled then the newly appointed 

coordinator can work with the various ODA staff involved with ADT to 

become familiar with Ohio’s ADT program. Moving forward the 

coordinator can create and build on relationships with other coordinators 

and ADT experts. Drawing on these relationships and the knowledge and 

understanding of the coordinator plans can be developed and implemented 

that will help Ohio’s ADT program move forward. The current ADT 

working group would coordinate with the newly appointed position to help 

facilitate these goals.

Securing a state coordinator would create a position that could solely focus 

on animal disease traceability. This would allow our secondary objectives 

to accomplished. This roadmap provides direction in the goals Ohio would 

like to achieve with our ADT program in the coming years. We would like 

to support our county and independent fairs in utilizing RFID technology. 

A coordinator would be able to orchestrate loaning and rotating RFID 

readers to fair contacts as well as being able to provide support in 

demonstrating how to utilize RFID technology. Ohio would also like to reevaluate further incorporating RFID technology in our livestock markets 

with the plan to install two panel readers into two markets to capture EID 
data. A coordinator would oversee this endeavor and provide support and 

knowledge to field staff and livestock market personnel. A coordinator 

provides a great resource to field staff in regard to training on the use of 

RFID technology. This person would also provide a valuable asset for 

brainstorming and implementing ideas to improve our IT portion of the 

program and help determine ways to continue to move towards 

digitalization along with more efficient ways to collect and use data. 

In Summary Ohio supports a vibrant agricultural industry. Collaboration between ODA and 

USDA VS Ohio allows for implementation of our animal disease traceability program. 

Ohio has made progress in the past years advancing our ADT program but is aware of the 

need for continuous improvement. This roadmap outlines Ohio’s strengths, weaknesses, and 

general concept of how our ADT program is managed. It also provides goals and objectives 

to move our ADT program forward. A fundamental aspect of enhancing Ohio’s ADT 

program is securing an ADT state coordinator. Such a position could focus solely on the 

improvement of Ohio’s ADT program and accomplishing the goals and objectives outlined 

in this roadmap.