ADVANCING ANIMAL DISEASE TRACEABILITY

ROAD MAP FOR

THE STATE OF TENNESSEE

A Three-Year Plan

Submitted by:

SAMANTHA BEATY, DVM

STATE VETERINARIAN

TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

436 HOGAN ROAD, PORTER BLDG., P.O. BOX 40627, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37204

(615) 837-5120

Submitted to:

K. MARK KRAUSE MS, DVM

AREA VETERINARIAN IN CHARGE

FOR TENNESSEE

VETERINARY SERVICES

ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

USDA, APHIS, VS

430 HOGAN ROAD, JENNINGS BLDG., P.O BOX 110950, NASHVILLE, TN 37220

 (615) 781-5982

 January 28, 2022 
Table of Contents

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

II. CURRENT TRACEABILITY SITUATION ................................................................3

2.1 Who are we? ............................................................................................................3

2.2 Where are we now?..................................................................................................5

2.3 Strengths and Weaknesses.......................................................................................7

2.4 Opportunities and Threats........................................................................................8

2.5 Inventory of existing infrastructure and suitability assessment............... ........8

III. VISION AND MISSION CONTEXT FOR ADVANCING TRACEABILITY...........9

3.1 Vision statement.......................................................................................................9

3.2 Mission statement...........................................................................9

IV. TRACEABILITY REQUIREMENTS...........................................................................9

4.1 Strategic goal(s) ..............................................................................9

4.2 Programmatic goal(s) (Objectives) .......................................................9

4.3 Animal disease traceability performance measures....................................11

4.4 Data requirements..................................................................................................11

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

4.6 Resource requirements...........................................................................................12

4.7 Organizational needs..............................................................................................13

4.7.1 Executive support.................................................................................13

4.7.2 Coordination and oversight procedures...............................................13

4.7.3 Policy ...................................................................................................13

4.7.4 Staffing.................................................................................................13

4.7.5 Budget requirements............................................................................14

4.7.6 Outreach...............................................................................................14

4.7.6.1 Accredited veterinarians ..........................................................15

4.7.6.2 Livestock markets....................................................................15

4.7.6.3 Industry as a whole ..................................................................15

4.8 Monitoring and reporting interstate movement activity ........................................16

V. TRACEABILITY IMPLEMENTATION....................................................................16

5.1 Ranking of priorities for advancement ..................................................................16

5.2 Implementation of objectives.................................................................................16
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I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Tennessee is a major agricultural state, so safeguarding the livestock and poultry

industries are a prime concern of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA). An 

important element in the international and national marketing of livestock is the 

capability to trace an animal back to its origin with the goal to safeguard animal health 

and public health, allowing for quick response to a livestock disease event or incident 

of concern. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is coordinating efforts

with USDA to implement the Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) Program through an 

industry-driven approach. TDA provides incentives to livestock markets and accredited 

veterinarians to increase the number of animals officially identified and to increase the 

amount official identification collected electronically. 

One of the resources to improve the ADT program is the Tennessee Cattle Identification

Program started in 2010 that allows identification data to be entered directly into the 

new Tennessee CoreOne database from participating livestock marketing facilities and 

accredited livestock veterinarians. This direct entry of animal identification data 

facilitates efficient documentation for conducting an animal disease inquiry or for 

documentation of disease-free status, plus it should be readily available in AHERS. 

The State of Tennessee currently has 28 livestock markets with 20 of the larger markets

participating in the Market Cattle Identification Program. The primary goal of the 

program is officially identifying all eligible cattle in marketing channels with official 

840 RFID tags and recording the information electronically. This work will advance 

animal disease traceability, not only in Tennessee, but will also interface with other 

jurisdictions throughout the country. This system provides an ongoing method for 

continual monitoring of the livestock population for disease or other situations that 

might be injurious to animal and human health. 

Objectives of the Tennessee Animal Traceability Program 

1. Advance animal disease tracing capability by increasing the amount of electronic 

traceability data collected by interstate certificates of veterinary inspection and 

official test charts and by increasing the amount of electronically data entered by

Tennessee veterinarians participating in the state’s cattle traceability program. 

2. Advance animal disease tracing capability and electronic data collected by the 

Tennessee Market Cattle Identification Program to increase the amount of official 

identification data collected by focusing on the point of commerce, primarily 

livestock markets utilizing accredited veterinarians by linking official 

identification to the market sales identifier and premises. 

3. Maintain and advance current animal disease traceability infrastructure within 

Tennessee. 

II. CURRENT TRACEABILITY SITUATION

2.1 Who are we?

• The Tennessee Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian’s 

office has prepared the ADT Roadmap and will work with

veterinarians, extension, and industry to implement the ADT plan. 
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• External constituents:

Licensed Tennessee Livestock Markets

Tennessee Accredited Veterinarians

Farm Service Agency

Tennessee Agriculture Extension Service

Tennessee Farm Bureau

Tennessee Farmer’s Cooperative

Tennessee Livestock Network

Livestock Producers

University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine

• What does statewide, tribal-wide, territory-wide mean?

State and federal field personnel visit markets regularly on sale days 

for purposes of inspection and monitoring activities, including 

verification that all eligible cattle are identified according to the 

traceability rule, that official identification tags are properly placed, 

and that required recordkeeping and transmission of official 

identification data is being done in a timely fashion. Field 

personnel, consisting of eight (8) animal health technicians and three 

(3) staff veterinarians that maintain liaison with the livestock 

markets and market veterinarians on all matters pertaining to the 

Federal traceability rule.

Twenty (20) accredited livestock markets participate in the 

Tennessee Market Cattle Identification Program. The TDA field 

personnel visit with accredited veterinarians and livestock producers

to address animal disease traceability (ADT) rules. TDA requires 

breeding cattle moving from Tennessee livestock markets back to 

the farm to be officially identified. Animal Health administrative 

staff review this information and the ADT Coordinator provides

oversight to the program.

• How is traceability data used internally, externally?

The TDA is transitioning the state’s database to the Tennessee 

CoreOne program in December 2021. Information from import

interstate certificates of veterinary inspection (ICVIs) and official 

identification is electronically entered into Tennessee CoreOne 

System. Starting in early 2022 official identification data will be

entered directly into the Tennessee CoreOne from participating 

livestock markets and accredited veterinarians. The CoreOne system 

will increase the amount of animal disease traceability data collected 

and that will be available to AHERS.

• Values that guide the Tennessee animal disease traceability system.
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An important element in the marketing of livestock is the capability 

to trace an animal back to its origin with the goal to safeguard animal 

health and public health allowing for quick response to a livestock 

disease event.

2.2 Where are we now?

The TDA ADT program including the Market Cattle Identification 

Program database is viewed as an integral component of the animal 

health information system. Twenty (20) of the larger livestock 

marketing facilities are currently participating in the Market Cattle 

Identification Program. All 28 markets are monitored by the field 

staff to make sure the Federal Traceability Rules are followed. 

 Thirty-five (35) Food Animal Veterinarians participate in the 

Tennessee Cattle Identification Program. Since the computer 

database is a website system the identification data is entered 

directly into TN Core One from participating livestock markets and 

accredited veterinarians. This system has increased the amount and 

accessibility of animal disease traceability data collected in 

Tennessee.

• What measures of traceability capability are currently being used? 

What are the specific values and associated interpretation?

In addition to actual disease trace backs, the Tennessee ADT Staff 

complete all National Priority Trace (NPT) exercises assigned and 

enter the information into EMRS to test the trace-back efficacy of 

the program. Each NPT involves the tracing of official

identification from sources that include official test charts, 

certificates of veterinary inspection, market and official tag 

distribution records.

Measures currently in place are the USDA traceability standards to 

measure animal traceability capability and time to trace animals 

detected and traced for program diseases such as brucellosis and 

tuberculosis.

• How is coordination being currently achieved within the unit?

The USDA ADT Coordinator works closely with the TDA State 

Veterinarian and ADT Coordinator. The TDA field staff coordinates the 

Animal Traceability Program through the livestock marketing facilities and 

accredited Veterinarians.
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• How is coordination being currently achieved state-wide?

The livestock market veterinarian and market personnel apply official 840 

RFID tags to all back-to-farm breeding cattle. The livestock market 

electronically enters the 840 RFID tag number, linked to the corresponding 

back tag, into the Tennessee Core One system. 

• How does the present unit coordinate activities with other existing 

agencies/units?

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) provides incentives and 

field support for the livestock markets to facilitate the program. The 

livestock market veterinarian and market personnel apply official 840 RFID 

tags to all back-to-the farm cattle over 18 months of age and all dairy 

replacement females, bulls, and steers. Market cattle going directly to 

slaughter continue to have only USDA- approved back tags applied. The 

livestock marketing facility submits electronically the official identification

linked to the corresponding back tag to the TDA Anim-All website for 

storage in the TN CoreOne. TDA can access the data for traceability efforts 

if needed for cattle diseases and food safety issues.

• What standards for traceability are currently being used? Are they 

appropriate?

The Tennessee Program seeks to continue objective assessment of animal 

disease traceability by using the recommended Preliminary Traceability 

Performance Measures.

• What is the state of technology infrastructure?

The TDA Anim-All web portal lets identification data to be entered directly 

into the TN CoreOne System from participating livestock marketing 

facilities. This direct entry of identification data decreases the risk of 

transcription error by reducing the number of times data is entered and

allows for efficient documentation of animal identification for conducting 

an animal disease inquiry or for documentation of disease-free status. 

• Are requests for information available 24/7, or only available M-F, 

40 hours per week, if authorized personnel are present?

The information is available Monday through Friday 47.5 hours per week 

during business hours 7:00 AM until 4:30 PM. All CVI information is 

entered into CVI Central which is uploaded into the TN Core One making

the information accessible 24/7 in an emergency situation in AHERS. 
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2.3 Strengths and Weaknesses

• Four important assets of the Tennessee ADT program are the 

following:

1. The TN Core One database is the centerpiece of the state

traceability system; identification data can be entered directly 

into the TDA database from participating livestock marketing 

facilities and accredited livestock veterinarians. This direct 

entry of identification data makes for efficient documentation of 

animal identification. 

2. The strength of the program is the state and federal field 

personnel that visit the markets regularly to address issues 

regarding the animal traceability rules. These regular visits are

for the purpose of inspection and monitoring activities, 

including verification that all eligible cattle are identified and 

that required record keeping and transmission of identification

data is being carried out. Field personnel, consisting of animal

health technicians and staff veterinarians, maintain close liaison 

with the livestock markets and market veterinarians on all 

matters pertaining to the federal traceability rules and the market 

cattle identification program. Federal funding plays an integral 

part of the plan since TDA field personnel are involved in 

numerous events yearly that help maintain and advance animal 

tracing capability of the Tennessee ADT Program.

3. Traceability data captured from cooperative disease programs.

Every official identification from Tuberculosis, Brucellosis

testing, and Brucellosis vaccinations is being entered into TN

CoreOne. TDA has a full-time data entry person to transfer all 

identification from the cooperative disease programs into Core 

One.

4. The Tennessee legislators have provided incentives for 

livestock markets to facilitate the ADT program since 2006. The 

TDA has received major legislative appropriations to support the 

animal industries of the State with a particular focus on the 

animal identification program. Over 40 million dollars have

been appropriated to provide co-funding for a variety of 

initiatives with funding contingent upon premises identification 

being a requirement for program enrollment. The allocation of 

State money designated for agriculture includes projects that 

would facilitate producers, livestock markets, and other 

livestock assembly sites to procure premises identification by 

linking state co-payments for purchases of animal handling 

facilities equipment, herd bulls, herd evaluations, plus 

incentives for markets and veterinarians to purchase scanners, 
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software and computers related to the collection of animal 

identification data.

What are the weaknesses in terms of “lack of” technology, human resources, 

personnel capabilities, etc.?

1. The State of Tennessee currently has a sound traceability program. 

Twenty (20) of the largest licensed livestock markets in the State and 35

livestock veterinarians are currently participating in the voluntary

Tennessee Cattle Identification Program (TCIP). This leaves eight

markets that have chosen not to participate.

2. Also automated data equipment like RFID readers at most markets need 

upgraded to increase the efficiency and accuracy of data collected.

3. The department is working on ways to increase the use of electronic 

CVIs by accredited veterinarians. TDA charges for paper TN CVI 

books. Our goal is to have 90% of accredited livestock veterinarians 

using electronic CVIs in the next 3 years. 

2.4 Opportunities and Threats

• The Market Cattle Traceability Program traces back all market cattle 

to the livestock marketing facilities. This traceability system still 

relies on the market keeping good records of all business 

transactions of the seller and buyer. Also, several of the smaller 

livestock markets do not participate in the voluntary program, so 

TDA can only trace cattle from these markets with USDA- approved

backtags and market records.

• TDA expanded the animal identification program for accredited 

livestock veterinarians in July of 2011. This program has the 

veterinarians entering official animal identification plus premise 

identification of the farm of origin into the TN Core One program.

2.5 Inventory of existing infrastructure and suitability assessment

At present, participation of livestock marketing facilities in the TDA

sponsored market cattle traceability program is voluntary. State and federal 

personnel visit markets regularly on sale days for the purpose of addressing 

issues about the traceability rules, inspection and monitoring activities, 

including verification that all eligible cattle are identified and that required 

record keeping and transmission of data is being done. The field staff works 

closely with the State ADT Coordinator and the USDA ADT Coordinator.

The central repository for the data for the Market Cattle Identification 

Program will be the TN CoreOne system starting in April 2022. Presently 

the identification data is entered directly into the TDA database. In the TDA 

database the Premise Identification information is linked to the official 

identification of the animal. This direct entry of identification data 

facilitates efficient documentation of animal identification.
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In addition to the field staff, a staff veterinarian, supervisor and two clerical 

data personnel work with the Tennessee CoreOne system in Nashville. 

Another clerical data person provides data entry of identification data 

originating from Interstate Certificates of Veterinary Inspection that is 

uploaded from CVI Central. 

Animal Traceability Computer Storage information 

Storage (method): The data is stored using the Trace First Core One program on

secure Amazon Servers.

III. VISION AND MISSION CONTEXT FOR ADVANCING TRACEABILITY

3.1 Vision Statement

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture works to ensure a healthy, growing 

animal industry. TDA partners with private veterinarians and livestock 

industries to provide programs aimed at preventing, controlling and 

eradicating certain infectious or communicable diseases of livestock. 

The Tennessee ADT Program strives to have an effective disease surveillance 

program by continuing to improve every aspect of animal traceability. 

3.2 Mission Statement

The Tennessee ADT Program assists in the overall objective of having an

animal disease traceability system to support an effective disease surveillance 

and response program. The intent is to continue improving the accuracy and

efficacy in every aspect of animal identification. 

IV. TRACEABILITY REQUIREMENTS

4.1 Strategic goal(s) 

The TDA plans to continue to improve the current traceability program by 

utilizing the new Tennessee Core One management system. The data collected 

by CVI Central, the Tennessee Market Cattle Traceability program and the

federal Brucellosis and TB programs will be entered into Core One, making the 

data accessible to AHERS. Tennessee has 28 livestock markets with 20 markets 

participating in the volunteer market cattle identification program (MCTP). The 

CVI Central and the MCTP data recorded in Core One moves Tennessee closer 

towards the goal of identifying the majority of eligible cattle in interstate 

movement and marketing channels. 

4.2 Programmatic goals (objectives) 

The overall objective of the Tennessee animal disease traceability program is 

to have searchable electronic epidemiological information prior to responding 

to any disease inquiry or natural disaster. 

Objective 1: Maintain and advance the animal disease tracing capability of 

the Tennessee Animal Disease Traceability Program by increasing the amount 

of electronic traceability data collected by APHIS/VS State-federal 
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cooperative program activity, interstate certificates of veterinary inspection, 

and the Tennessee Cattle Identification Program.

To accomplish this objective, TDA staff will continue to collect data in CVI 

Central from hand-written CVIs, the TN CO/KS eCVIs, GlobalVetLink and 

USDA VSPS systems. Compliance for proper and complete information on 

ICVIs, Official Test Records, and other movement documents will be

monitored as the CVIs are received by the Tennessee State Veterinarian’s 

office. 

Objective 2: Conduct outreach activities to producers, accredited 

veterinarians, livestock markets, harvest facilities and other industry 

shareholders. In addition to the routine visits to livestock market sales, field 

staff will participate in ADT traceability outreach with food animal veterinary 

practitioners, feed stores, livestock associations, etc. At the statewide and 

regional levels, staff personal will conduct outreach activities through 

participation in statewide and regional industry and veterinary organizations. 

Objective 3: Establish objective assessment of animal disease traceability by 

completing National Priority Traces during the period of the roadmap using 

the four standard Traceability Performance Measures.

Objective 4: Improve Animal Disease Traceability Infrastructure within 

Tennessee. The Tennessee Cattle Identification Program compiles official 

identification information that traces cattle movement in Tennessee livestock 

marketing facilities and allows sharing of animal disease traceability data. The 

official identification used is 840 RFID tags and originates from cattle 

premises or licensed livestock markets, with both having registered premises 

identification number as the location identifier. Twenty licensed livestock 

markets in the State currently participate in the voluntary traceability program. 

The TDA has received major legislative appropriations of $300,000 to support 

the animal industries of the State with a particular focus on the cattle 

identification program. The livestock market veterinarian and market 

personnel apply official 840 RFID tags to all back to farm cattle over 18 

months of age, and all dairy cattle. The livestock market electronically 

transmits the 840 RFID tag number and cattle information to the TDA data 

system via the Anim-All traceability web portal. 

The goal of the Tennessee Cattle Traceability Program is to identify cattle 

through an electronic database. This data will be migrated to the TN Core One 

System by April 2022. The department’s goal is to be able to identify 

electronically approximately 5,000 head of cattle monthly. 

For the past thirteen years the state appropriations have also provided cofunding through the Tennessee Ag Enhancement program for a variety of 

initiatives. These allocated funds are paid directly to the participating livestock 

producers, livestock markets and veterinarians. The TDA provides field 

support for livestock markets to facilitate the program. 

Objective 5: In another component of the traceability program, accredited 

livestock veterinarians have been encouraged to participate in the Animal 

Identification Program. Participating veterinarians are utilizing official 
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identification (840 RFID) tags to identify cattle for their clients. The 

accredited veterinarian receives an incentive for promoting and performing 

animal identification in his/her practice area. This program requires that 

participating herds have a premises identification number. Identification data 

is entered directly into the Tennessee animal health database from the 

veterinarian’s office via the Anim-All website.

Objective 6: Compliance is a major priority of the Tennessee traceability plan. 

The Tennessee Ag Crime Unit is a separate department within the Tennessee 

Department of Agriculture that has assisted the State Veterinarian with 

monitoring livestock movement along the Tennessee Interstate System. The 

Ag Crime Officers are licensed law enforcement officers and can conduct 

inspections of interstate cattle movements.

4.3 Animal disease traceability performance measures 

The Tennessee Program seeks to continue objective assessment of animal disease 

traceability by providing baseline measures during the funding period by using the 

recommended Preliminary Traceability Performance Measures. 

In addition to actual disease trace backs, the Tennessee ADT Staff complete all 

National Priority Trace (NPT) exercises assigned and enter the information into 

EMRS to test the trace-back efficacy of the program. Each NPT involves the tracing 

of official identification from sources that include official test charts, certificates of 

veterinary inspection, and market and official tag distribution records. 

4.4 Data requirements 

 Administration of Official Identification Devices

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) assists livestock producers to 

officially identify cattle on their premises. Tennessee producers are able to obtain 

official 840 RFID tags at no cost from the TDA Animal Health office. Livestock 

producers with a premise identification number can contact the state animal health 

office. Official USDA identification (840 RFID tags) are mailed directly to the 

livestock producer for use in livestock on their premise. This program promotes 

the identification of cattle with official identification and links the official ID with 

a premises identification number. The Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement 

Program (TAEP) provides cost share dollars to livestock producers, veterinarians,

and markets for the purpose of purchasing EID readers and equipment for 

scanning RFID tags. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) staff 

maintains electronic records of official USDA identification devices distributed to 

livestock producers in the TN CoreOne along with official identification 

distributed to livestock marketing facilities, tagging sites, and accredited 

veterinarians. Official identification distribution records are also entered in the 

USDA Animal Identification Number Management System (AINMS). The 
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Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) has a web portal that allows official 

identification data of cattle to be entered directly into the TDA database from 

participating livestock marketing facilities and veterinary offices.

Tennessee Cattle Traceability Program

The TDA provides incentives and field support for livestock markets to facilitate 

the program. The livestock market veterinarian and market personnel apply 

official 840 RFID tags and USDA approved back tags to all back-to-farm beef 

cattle over 18 months of age, and all dairy cattle. The livestock market

electronically transmits the official USDA identification, linked to the 

corresponding back tag, to the Tennessee animal health data base. Livestock 

markets participating in the program apply the 840 RFID tags because of the 

incentive paid to the market.

Accredited livestock veterinarians continue to participate in the Tennessee cattle

identification program on a voluntary basis. Participating veterinarians utilize 

permanent 840 RFID tags, to identify cattle for their clients. The accredited 

veterinarians receive an incentive for promoting and performing animal 

identification in his/her practice area. Participating cattlemen are required to have 

a premises ID, along with a physical farm address, in order to participate in the 

program. It is expected that accredited veterinarians will continue to apply official 

identification while performing regulatory animal disease work. Identification data 

is entered by the veterinarian’s office directly into the Tennessee Animal Health 

data base via the Anim-All web portal.

By using the new TN Core One System, the Tennessee animal disease traceability 

information is compatible and interoperable with other States/Tribes/Territories, and

USDA, for sharing animal disease traceability data. Data is verified with field traceback exercises using actual identification data from program records and movement 

documents. The availability of traceability information to other jurisdictions is 

usually during normal business hours. However, it can be up to, and including, 24/7 

if the level of emergency warrants such coverage. 

4.5 Information technology plan

The central repository for the data for the Tennessee Cattle Identification Program is 

being transferred to the TN CoreOne System. This direct entry of identification data 

facilitates efficient documentation of animal identification for conducting an animal 

disease inquiry or for documentation of disease-free status.

4.6 Resource requirements

• Is specific expertise needed that is not currently available?

CVI Central was added in September of 2021 to record data from 

handwritten certificates of veterinary inspection. Presently, disease 
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program and vaccination record information are being manually 

entered into the TN Core One.

• Is a continuity of operation plan (COOP) in place and how 

frequently is it tested? The Tennessee Department does have a 

continuity of operation plan (COOP) in place and is tested every 24-

36 months.

• Are automated data capture resources used? Yes, the Trace First 

CVI Central is used to capture information from electronic TN PDF 

CVIs, VSPS and GVL CVIs for livestock and horses.

4.7 Organizational needs

4.7.1 Executive support

The State Veterinarian is very involved in the Animal 

Identification Program. The State Veterinarian meets regularly

with the Commissioner of Agriculture to obtain feedback on the 

implementation of programs including Animal Traceability and 

other matter dealing with the department. 

Since state funds are used in the support of animal traceability, the 

Tennessee Department of Agriculture is subject to state audits.

4.7.2 Coordination and oversight procedures

The animal disease traceability advisory committee is made up of 

several industry, private, and university groups listed on page four. 

The industry stakeholders assist TDA with the dissemination of 

ADT information to their respective groups. Representatives of 

these groups meet in a face-to-face meeting on a yearly basis.

The Assistant State Veterinarian serves as the state ADT 

Coordinator and the TDA Emergency Support Coordinator to the 

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and regularly 

participates in TEMA exercises. 

4.7.3 Policy

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s first priority is to 

execute federal and state ADT rules in all departmental programs.

The overall objective of the Tennessee animal disease traceability 

program is to have searchable epidemiological information prior to 

responding to any disease inquiry or response need. 

4.7.4 Staffing

The TDA ADT coordinator and administrative staff will oversee the 

collection, recording, and availability of the Tennessee traceability 

data. The state animal health technicians and staff veterinarians are 

responsible for maintaining direct contact with livestock marketing 

facilities and accredited veterinarians in their specific sections of the
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state. The Animal Health administrative staff consists of two data 

clerk entry personnel with one supervisor overseen by the State 

ADT Coordinator/ Assistant State Veterinarian. Animal 

Traceability Program is a vital individually coordinated unit of the 

Tennessee Department of Agriculture Animal Health.

 4.7.5 Budget requirements

The Tennessee ADT program is funded by both federal and state 

funds. USDA-VS Cooperative funding provide $153,186annually 

to support ADT in Tennessee. Since 2006, animal health has 

received legislative appropriations to support the animal industries 

of the State with a particular focus on the animal identification 

program The Tennessee Cattle Identification Program has been 

allocated $300,000 for the Market Cattle Identification Program

for this fiscal year. To continue the traceability program the next 

three years, TDA will have to continue funding at the same or 

increased levels to improve the present Animal Traceability 

initiative in the state of Tennessee. The various components are 

somewhat dependent on the amount of success the Market Cattle 

Identification Program incurs. TDA will continue this program as 

long as state funds are available; federal funds are used primarily 

for salaries and benefits and to partially fund work in all aspects of 

animal traceability.

Over 40 million dollars have been appropriated during the past 

thirteen (13) years to provide co-funding for a variety of initiatives 

with funding contingent upon premises identification being a 

requirement for program enrollment. The allocation of State money 

designated for agriculture includes projects that facilitate producers, 

livestock markets, and other livestock assembly sites to procure 

animal handling equipment, herd bulls, herd health programs, herd 

evaluations. This program also provides incentives for markets and 

veterinarians to purchase RFID scanners, software and computers 

related to the collection of animal identification data. 

 4.7.6.1 Outreach activities

One of the aims of the Tennessee Animal Traceability Program is to conduct outreach 

activities to producers, accredited veterinarians, livestock marketing facilities, harvest 

facilities, and other industry shareholders. In addition to routine visits to livestock 

markets, the field staff participates in various program outreach in their contacts with 

food animal veterinary practitioners, feed stores, and livestock/poultry associations. 

At the statewide and regional levels, staff personnel conduct outreach activities 

through participation in statewide and regional industry and veterinary organizations.
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1.7.6.1.Accredited veterinarians

As well as the outreach mentioned above, accredited livestock veterinarians are

asked to participate in the Tennessee Cattle Identification Program on a voluntary 

basis. Participating veterinarians are required to utilize 840 RFID tags to identify 

cattle for their clients. The veterinarian receives an incentive for promoting and 

performing animal identification in his/her practice area. 

Tennessee accredited veterinarians are encouraged to use eCVI programs instead 

of paper CVIs; several electronic CVIs are available to use. TDA administrative 

staff currently monitor all certificates through CVI Central. This data is uploaded 

into the TDA CoreOne System. 

To advance animal disease traceability and compliance, the Tennessee 

Department of Agriculture office staff monitors all Certificates of Veterinary

Inspection sent in by accredited veterinarians. ICVIs are monitored for proper 

completion. Accredited Veterinarians are notified by letter of all non-compliance 

issues. These non-compliance issues are recorded electronically in CVI Central

by individual veterinarian. All veterinarians with multiple non-compliance issues 

are visited by a state or federal staff veterinarian. Livestock markets are visited 

regularly for ADT compliance. 

1.7.6.2. Livestock markets

The field staff makes routine visits to sales at the livestock markets; the staff 

participates in various opportunities for program outreach in their contacts with the 

livestock markets. Outreach activities consist of personal contact, verbal 

communications, and distributing printed educational materials. Additionally, 

during the year direct personal contacts are made with the owners/operators of the 

eight livestock marketing facilities that do not participate in the Tennessee Cattle 

Traceability Program to try and recruit them into the program.

 4.7.6.3. Industry as a whole

The field staff participates in various program outreach opportunities to industry in 

general; their contacts include food animal veterinary practitioners, feed stores, 

livestock and poultry associations, etc. 

The allocation of State money designated for agriculture includes projects that 

facilitate producers, livestock markets, and other livestock assembly sites to 

procure animal handling equipment, herd bulls, herd health programs, herd 

evaluations. 

 The animal disease traceability advisory committee is made up of the following 

groups: Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, Tennessee 

Agriculture Extension Service, Tennessee Farm Bureau, Tennessee Farmer’s 

Cooperative, private veterinarians, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary 

of Medicine faculty and the Tennessee Livestock Network. Representatives of 

these groups meet in a face-to-face meeting on a yearly basis. This committee is 

informed of any plans to advance animal traceability that will impact the animal 

industry.
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4.8. Monitoring and reporting interstate movement activity

• How will the number of animals and the number of shipments be 

monitored that move interstate?

• Presently the Tennessee Department of Agriculture monitors 

imports and exports to other states by Electronic Certificates of 

Veterinary Inspections (eCVIs) and handwritten CVIs which are

uploaded into CVI Central and stored in CoreOne. 

• Tennessee Ag Crime officers check livestock carriers transporting 

livestock interstate through Tennessee for proper interstate 

Certificates of Veterinary Inspection. 

• Also, a quarterly report of exported and imported livestock and 

equine is generated by the Tennessee ADT Coordinator. Staff

personnel maintain an electronic record of the number of imports 

and exports of cattle, bison, equine, goats, sheep, swine, alpacas, 

llamas and exotic animals in CoreOne. A yearly report is sent to 

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). 

5 TRACEABILITY IMPLEMENTATION

5.1 Ranking of priorities for advancement

A. Increase the use of Electronic Certificates of Veterinary Inspection and official 

identification (840 RFID tags) in the interstate movement of cattle.

B. Market Cattle Identification Program- focus on the point of commerce and high-risk cattle 

classes (over 18 months and dairy females, bulls and steers) at livestock marketing 

facilities. Promoting entry into the TN CoreOne data system by the livestock markets.

C. Promote the use of RFID 840 tags on the farms of livestock producers, the Veterinary 

Cattle Identification program was created. The program focuses on official identification

of breeding replacement cattle classes (beef cattle over 18 months, dairy females and bulls) 

at clients’ farms. This program promotes RFID tag use and electronic entry of data.

5.2 Implementation of objectives

A. 2022-2025 Tennessee Cattle Identification Program- focus on the point of 

commerce and high-risk cattle classes at livestock markets. Increase our 

outreach to the livestock markets that are not participating in the voluntary 

Market Cattle Identification Program. Increase the number of market cattle 

officially identified in the electronic data base the next 3-year period.

B. 2022-2025 Veterinary Cattle Identification program- focuses on high-risk

cattle classes. Promoting RFID, web-based interface self-entry. Increase

number of veterinarians using eCVI and participating in the cattle 

identification program by personal visits from the TDA field staff.
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C. 2022-2025 Increase the amount of electronic data (ICVI and animal 

identification) uploaded into TN CoreOne

D. 2022-2025 Continue to promote the tracing of interstate movement of cattle 

by the use of electronic CVIs and low frequency and ultra-high frequency

(UHF) RFID tags. (DB 01/27/2022)