Advancing Animal Disease Traceability

(ADT) Road Map for

Commonwealth of Virginia

A Three-Year Plan

Submitted by:

DR. CHARLES C. BROADDUS

STATE VETERINARIAN AND DIRECTOR

ANIMAL AND FOOD INDUSTRY SERVICES DIVISION

VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES (VDACS)

102 GOVERNOR STREET, RICHMOND, VA 23219

804.692.0601

Submitted to:

DR. KAREN BECKER

AREA VETERINARIAN FOR DC, DE, MD, AND VA

VETERINARY SERVICES

ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

400 N. 8TH STREET, STE. 726 RICHMOND, VA 23219-4824

804-343-2561

Date: February 9, 2023
Table of Contents

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY _________________________________________________________________ 3

II. CURRENT TRACEABILITY SITUATION ______________________________________________________ 6

2.1 Who are we?_____________________________________________________________________ 6

2.2 Where are we now? _______________________________________________________________ 8

2.3 Strengths and Weaknesses _________________________________________________________ 8

2.4 Opportunities and Threats __________________________________________________________ 8

2.5 Inventory of existing infrastructure and suitability assessment _____________________________ 9

III. VISION AND MISSION CONTEXT FOR ADVANCING TRACEABILITY _____________________________ 10

3.1 Vision Statement ________________________________________________________________ 10

3.2 Mission Statement _______________________________________________________________ 10

IV. TRACEABILITY REQUIREMENTS _________________________________________________________ 10

4.1 Strategic goal(s) _________________________________________________________________ 11

4.2 Programmatic goals (objectives) ____________________________________________________ 11

4.3 ADT Trace Performance Measures (TPMs) ____________________________________________ 12

4.4 Data requirements _______________________________________________________________ 12

4.5 Information technology plan _______________________________________________________ 13

4.6 Resource requirements____________________________________________________________ 13

4.7 Organizational needs _____________________________________________________________ 13

4.7.1 Executive support _____________________________________________________________ 13

4.7.2 Coordination and oversight procedures ____________________________________________ 14

4.7.3 Policy _______________________________________________________________________ 14

4.7.4 Staffing ______________________________________________________________________ 14

4.7.5 Budget requirements___________________________________________________________ 14

4.7.6 Outreach (required to be addressed within the Road Map) ____________________________ 15

4.8 Monitoring and reporting interstate movement activity _________________________________ 15

V. ADVANCING TRACEABILITY ____________________________________________________________ 16

5.1 Ranking of priorities for advancement _______________________________________________ 16

5.2 Implementation of objectives ______________________________________________________ 16
3

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The capability to efficiently respond to livestock diseases of concern when they 

occur is not only important to the health of livestock populations in Virginia, but is 

also important in supporting rural economies, maintaining interstate and international 

trade, and increasing consumer confidence in food production systems. 

Unfortunately, due in large part to our success in eradicating or reducing the impact 

of some livestock diseases in the United States, relatively few animals that are not 

involved in active disease investigations are being tested in comparison to 15 to 20 

years ago. As the incidence of some diseases (e.g., brucellosis) and “first-point” 

testing of livestock for diseases has declined, the emphasis on tagging animals with 

official, traceable identification has also declined in many sectors of the livestock 

industry. The re-emergence of diseases such as bovine tuberculosis in several states 

over the past ten years as well as intense concern over foreign animal diseases such 

as foot-and-mouth (FMD) and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) have 

brought the issue of disease traceability back to the forefront as a concern that needs 

to be addressed by the livestock industry and public animal health organizations.

Early in 2010, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) introduced a national 

program called Animal Disease Traceability (ADT). This program proposed to 

improve disease traceability in the U.S. by focusing on the identification of animals 

involved in interstate movements while leaving intrastate traceability concerns 

largely to state animal health officials working with local producer groups. The ADT 

program required large numbers of animals to be tagged with official identification 

and the distribution of tags to be carefully documented. In addition, there was 

increased emphasis on documenting interstate movement of animals (primarily 

cattle) through Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) or other documents 

associated with the transporting of animals in interstate commerce. This increased 

the burden on state animal health officials, local livestock market operators, cattle 

dealers, private veterinarians, and processing facilities to create, store and make 

available extensive information on identification and movement records.

To improve animal disease traceability capabilities at the national level, USDA has 

identified the following key elements:

1. Increase use of electronic ID (EID) tags for animals requiring individual 

identification to make the transmission of data more efficient.

2. Enhance the ability to track animals from birth to slaughter through a 

system that allows tracking data points to be connected.

3. Elevate the discussion with States and industry to work toward a system 

where animal health certificates are electronically transmitted from private 

veterinarians to State animal health officials.

4. Enhance electronic sharing of data among Federal and State animal health 

officials, veterinarians, and industry, including sharing basic ADT data 

with the Federal Animal Health Events Repository (AHER).
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This document outlines the strategic direction and major goals of the Animal Disease 

Traceability program in the Commonwealth of Virginia from 2023 to 2026 as 

administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 

(VDACS).

Status of ADT in Virginia

The Virginia Animal Disease Traceability program seeks to create cost-effective and 

practical solutions to achieve national objectives identified by USDA. 

Implementation milestones achieved over the past 10 years are briefly summarized 

below. 

Increase use of electronic identification

• Since 2012, the Virginia ADT program has distributed over 500,000 

official electronic ear tags to cattle producers, large animal veterinarians, 

Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and federally approved 

livestock markets at no cost to the livestock industry. 

• In 2012, 40 percent of all official ID tags distributed were EID; in 2022 

the proportion of EID tags distributed was 70 percent. 

Enhance ability to track animals (objectives 2 & 3 from above combined) 

Traceability data (location, event date and animal identification) for all livestock 

animals involved in regulatory activities are stored in a centralized database 

accessible to state and federal animal health officials in the event of an animal 

disease emergency.

• Over 20,000 livestock premises (9,382 cattle premises) were registered. 

• Electronic data logger systems installed at 17 of the largest public 

livestock markets in Virginia have captured over 60,000 official 

identification records for cattle. This information is correlated to sale 

records maintained by livestock markets to enable traceability to buyers 

and sellers when required. 

• Fixed antenna, electronic reader systems are under development at several 

livestock markets and cattle buying stations to support collection of 

traceability data for large volume cattle sales.

• Over 27,000 livestock import records from electronic Certificates of 

Veterinary Inspection (eCVI) and the Virginia animal entry permit system 

(required for imported cattle moving on a paper CVI) were stored in the 

Virginia animal health database.

• Over 500 out-of-state veterinarians are registered with the Virginia animal 

entry permit system that enables electronic capture of import cattle 

movement records from paper CVIs. 

• In cooperation with a private vendor and other states, an online application 

was developed to capture Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) test accession 

parameters from electronic CVIs to improve equine traceability.
5 

• 142 traceability performance tests were completed since 2016 with a 100 

percent success rate and an average time to completion of 21 minutes.

Enhance electronic sharing of data

• In 2011, the Office of Veterinary Services (OVS) within VDACS adopted 

a centralized animal health database (SCS-VA) to house all regulatory 

animal health records related to animal disease traceability (e.g., 

regulatory test and vaccination records, interstate movement records, 

sightings at approved livestock markets (cattle only), and distribution 

records for all official identification tags). This database application is 

hosted and managed by USDA-APHIS-VS and all traceability data are 

fully available to state and federal animal health officials using secure 

credentials.

• Electronic tags, tag readers and software applications to collect traceability 

data associated with regulatory activities have been made available to all 

large animal practitioners that have expressed interest in adopting these 

tools. 

• The Office of Veterinary Services has revised state animal entry 

requirements to be consistent with the federal ADT Rule published in 

2013 as well as federal-state animal disease programs.

Program Goals, 2023-2026 

In general, animal disease traceability is on the right track in Virginia, and we do not 

envision major shifts in policies or program objectives over the next three years. The 

proposed transition from visual identification tags to electronic identification (EID) 

will be challenging without additional funding or federal mandates, but Virginia’s 

successful distribution of over 500,000 EID tags and development of electronic data 

capture systems over the past decade has laid a good foundation to support broader 

adoption of EID in the cattle industry. Nevertheless, the program must remain 

responsive to changing industry needs, emerging animal health issues and 

availability of new information technologies. Therefore, the following represent 

broad strategic directions that we believe will enhance ADT in Virginia over the long 

term while allowing flexibility in how these objectives are achieved.

Increase use of electronic identification

The Virginia ADT program will continue to distribute 840-series electronic tags 

(EID) to livestock producers, veterinarians, livestock markets and others on 

demand. 

Goal: 100,000 tags per year. 

Enhance ability to track animals

Maintain automated data logger systems at livestock markets and as needed 

supplement these systems with updated EID readers and mobile data collection 

devices (i.e., smartphones or tablets). 
6 

Goal: Maintain or replace electronic data capture systems at 17 livestock markets.

Assist livestock markets and buying stations with the installation of fixed antenna, 

electronic tag reader systems to record traceability data for large volume cattle sales. 

All data generated will be stored in the state animal health database or accessible 

through market software systems. 

Goal: Improve the quality and quantity of traceability data from 8 existing fixed 

antenna systems and install 1 new system per year.

Continue work with private veterinarians on adoption of e-commerce technologies 

(EID tags, EID readers and software applications) to capture traceability data.

Goal: Transition at least 5 large animal practitioners per year from paper forms to 

electronic data capture for regulatory test and vaccination events.

Enhance electronic sharing of data

All traceability data will continue to be stored in SCS-VA and will therefore be 

available to state and federal animal health officials on demand through the 

Animal Health Event Repository (AHER) or other federal applications. 

Goal: 100% of traceability data collected in Virginia for cattle available 

electronically within 5 business days of receipt. 

Estimated Financial Requirements, 2023-2026 

Most of the infrastructure in terms of personnel, equipment and information 

technology required to effectively manage the ADT program in Virginia is in place. 

However, expenditures for salaries and fringe benefits for staff directly involved in 

the ADT program (currently 1.5 FTE) and technology services are expected to 

increase over the next three years. The following levels of federal funding through 

cooperative agreements with USDA-APHIS-VS will be required to maintain the 

ADT program in Virginia at current levels. 

CA YEAR 2023-24: $208,000 

CA YEAR 2024-25: $218,400 

CA YEAR 2025-26: $229,320 

II. CURRENT TRACEABILITY SITUATION

2.1 Who are we?

The Virginia State Veterinarian and Office of Veterinary Services (OVS) 

are responsible for administration of the ADT program, within regulatory 

guidelines established by the United States Department of Agriculture, 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services (USDAAPHIS-VS) and subject to applicable federal and state laws. Funding is 

provided through annual cooperative agreements with USDA-APHIS-VS 

and appropriations from the Virginia General Assembly. 
7

The primary contacts in Virginia for the program are:

Dr. Richard Odom, Animal Health Information Systems Manager and ADT 

Coordinator

Office of Veterinary Services

102 Governor Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219

Office: (804) 692-0600

E-mail: richard.odom@vdacs.virginia.gov

Dr. Carolynn Bissett, Program Manager

Office of Veterinary Services

102 Governor Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219

Office: (804) 786-2483

E-mail: carolynn.bissett@vdacs.virginia.gov

Dr. Charles Broaddus, State Veterinarian and Director

Division of Animal and Food Industry Services

102 Governor Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219

Office: (804) 692-0601

E-mail: charles.broaddus@vdacs.virginia.gov

ADT activities are fully integrated within the Office of Veterinary Services; 

positions and roles for staff supporting the program are summarized below:

Program administration and coordination:

Dr. Carolynn Bissett, OVS Program Manager - program oversight

Dr. Richard Odom, Animal Health Information Systems Manager and ADT 

Coordinator - overall program coordination, cooperative agreement and 

financial management, information technology support, industry outreach

Dr. Abby Sage, Staff Veterinarian - equine and swine health programs

Britanny Street, Animal Import Coordinator - CVI management and 

compliance

Regional field operations (distribution of official ID tags, oversight of 

livestock markets, regulatory data processing, industry outreach):

Harrisonburg Regional Office

Dr. Dan Hadacek, Regional Veterinary Supervisor

Dr. Tabitha Moore, Regional Veterinarian

Kimberly Coffman, Senior Livestock Inspector

Lisa Miller, Administrative and Program Specialist

Livestock inspectors (4)

Wytheville Regional Office

Dr. Tom Lavelle, Regional Veterinary Supervisor

James Umberger, Senior Livestock Inspector

Leigh Ann Altizer, Administrative Specialist

Livestock inspectors (4)
8

2.2 Where are we now?

Please refer to sections 2.1, 2.5, and 4.7.5

2.3 Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

• Experience and consistency in program management and 

coordination.

• Highly capable support from field and administrative staff.

• Long standing relationships with key technology vendors.

• Stable, low-cost technology platform (SCS-VA, StateVet.com), 

hosted externally with 24x7 availability, excellent redundancy and 

security.

• Relatively stable federal funding, although base ADT CA not 

keeping up with increasing costs.

Weaknesses

• Lack of funding for practical IT solutions (e.g., “eCharts” proposal 

to develop a web-based application to process regulatory test and 

vaccination data not supported by USDA).

• Dependency on VS ADTIS strategy and application development 

process.

• Little incentive for small producers, private practitioners, and 

livestock markets to adopt EID and e-commerce tools.

2.4 Opportunities and Threats

Opportunities

• Partnering with livestock markets, buying stations and producers 

interested in leveraging EID technology to enhance marketing of 

cattle.

• Potential for interacting more strategically with industry to leverage 

ADT investments to improve marketing of Virginia cattle (e.g., 

source verification, value-added programs).

Threats

• Staff turnover, loss of experience and skillsets.

• Staff workload resulting in shifting priorities.

• Insufficient funding from state and federal sources as operational 

costs increases over time.
9

2.5 Inventory of existing infrastructure and suitability assessment

1.5 FTE supported by federal funds:

• Program coordinator (full time)

• Data entry technician (half time)

Other staff supported by state funds:

• OVS program manager (1)

• Staff veterinarians (4)

• Livestock inspectors (8)

• Administrative staff (3)

Space availability is adequate for program needs.

Staff are geographically distributed between 3 office locations with 

adequate facilities to support all ADT-related activities:

• VDACS main office – Richmond, VA

• Harrisonburg regional office

• Wytheville regional office

Connectivity resources in all offices and in the field are adequate.

Access to USDA ADT and animal health information resources is 

adequate.

Organization of all existing paper record systems used to access ADT 

or animal health information.

The following paper documents are stored by date and state of origin in 

the Richmond, VA office:

• Import ICVIs for non-bovine species that are not submitted 

electronically

• Export ICVIs for all species that are not submitted electronically

Computerized data management capability

• All animal records related to state-federal animal health programs 

are stored in SCS-VA, a database application hosted and 

maintained by USDA. In addition, a web-based data processing 

service (StateVet.com) is used to acquire and review traceability 

data from multiple sources (e.g., commercial eCVI applications, 

Virginia animal entry permit system, data capture platforms 

located at livestock markets).

Automated data capture capability

• Data from approved eCVI applications are transmitted to the 

StateVet.com application, reviewed and submitted to SCS-VA for 

storage.
10

• Data associated with import cattle movements documented on 

paper CVIs are entered manually to the Virginia animal entry 

permit module on StateVet.com by out of state veterinarians.

• Data associated with regulatory test and vaccination events for all 

livestock species are manually entered to the SCS-VA database 

(95%) or processed via the USDA MIM Manager application (5% 

submitted on spreadsheet templates used by a few private 

veterinarians).

• Traceability data from adult cattle sales at public livestock markets 

are captured via electronic data loggers or mobile platforms 

equipped with EID tag readers and uploaded to the StateVet.com 

application.

• We plan to implement fixed antenna, stationary EID readers at 

several markets or buying stations that handle large volumes of 

cattle over the next three years. Traceability data will be captured 

by market software systems or through a cloud-based commercial 

service, exact details to be determined.

III. VISION AND MISSION CONTEXT FOR ADVANCING TRACEABILITY

3.1 Vision Statement

3.2 Mission Statement

Established in 1877, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and 

Consumer Services (VDACS) promotes the economic growth and

development of Virginia agriculture, provides consumer protection, and 

encourages environmental stewardship. Animals play many valuable roles 

in our lives. VDACS is responsible for the Commonwealth’s animal 

control, care, and welfare mandates, as well as animal disease control, 

prevention, and diagnostics. VDACS provides inspection and grading 

services to ensure the production of a safe, unadulterated, wholesome, and 

accurately labeled food supply. The agency protects the health of 

Virginia’s animal populations through animal identification, admissions, 

and traceability programs.

The Office of Veterinary Services is responsible for the state’s animal 

disease control and prevention efforts, which include investigating 

outbreaks, providing laboratory diagnostics, and containing the spread of 

animal diseases. The office manages import requirements and Certificates 

of Veterinary Inspection, provides oversight to Livestock Services 

facilities, and implements the Animal Disease Traceability Program.

IV. TRACEABILITY REQUIREMENTS

The following categories must be described in the Road Map:
11

4.1 Strategic goal(s)

Please refer to sections I, II, and V.

4.2 Programmatic goals (objectives)

Increase use of electronic identification.

The Virginia ADT program will continue to distribute 840-series 

electronic tags (EID) to livestock producers, veterinarians, livestock 

markets and others on demand.

Goal: 100,000 tags per year

Dependencies:

• USDA continues to provide 840-EID tags to states at no cost and 

in adequate quantity to meet demand.

• A revised federal ADT Rule announcing the phase-out of visualonly official identification tags for cattle (e.g., metal NUES ear 

tags) is approved and implemented in the next year or two.

Enhance ability to track animals

Maintain automated data logger systems at livestock markets and as 

needed supplement these systems with updated EID readers and mobile 

data collection devices (i.e., smartphones or tablets).

Goal: Maintain or replace electronic data capture systems at 17 livestock 

markets

Dependencies:

• Availability of adequate funding for system maintenance and 

upgrades.

Assist livestock markets and buying stations with the installation of 

fixed antenna, electronic tag reader systems to record traceability 

data for large volume cattle sales. All data generated will be stored in 

the state animal health database or accessible through market 

software systems.

Goal: Improve the quality and quantity of traceability data from 8 existing 

fixed antenna systems and install 1 new system per year.

Dependencies:

• Availability of technical assistance from commercial vendor.

• Commitment from markets and buying station owners to make 

required changes to facilities and proceed with projects in a timely 

manner.

• Development of internal expertise to install and support fixed 

antenna systems.

• Availability of adequate funding for automated data capture 

service.
12

Continue work with private veterinarians on adoption of e-commerce 

technologies (EID tags, EID readers and software applications) to 

capture traceability data.

Goal: Transition at least 5 large animal practitioners per year from paper 

forms to electronic data capture for regulatory test and vaccination events.

Dependencies:

• Availability of easy to use, Internet-based software applications or 

other tools to process regulatory test and vaccination data and 

minimize manual data entry.

Enhance electronic sharing of data.

All traceability data will continue to be stored in SCS-VA and will 

therefore be available to state and federal animal health officials on 

demand through AHER or other federal applications.

Goal: 100% of traceability data collected in Virginia from all sources 

available electronically within 5 business days of receipt.

Dependencies:

• Availability of adequate staff to support data processing 

requirements.

• Availability of software applications to efficiently process and 

store traceability data.

4.3 ADT Trace Performance Measures (TPMs)

All ADT Trace Performance Measures assigned by USDA-APHIS-VS will 

be completed by the Virginia ADT Coordinator with assistance from field 

staff as needed. TPMs will be documented in the federal Emergency 

Management Response System (EMRS) as required by USDA-APHIS-VS.

4.4 Data requirements

As discussed in section 2.5 above, all traceability data generated through 

regulatory programs are stored in a centralized database, SCS-VA.

Electronic 840-series and visual NUES tags are provided to livestock 

producers, accredited veterinarians, and livestock markets as needed and 

tag distribution records are stored in SCS-VA.

There are very few commuter herd agreements in place in Virginia. 

Producers that regularly move animals across state lines under a commuter 

herd agreement are required to tag animals with official ID and maintain 

movement records for five years.

The only significant use of group/lot official ID in Virginia is in the 

commercial swine sector. Import movement records for commercial swine 
13

are provided to VDACS in spreadsheet form. These records are currently 

not stored in SCS-VA.

4.5 Information technology plan

As discussed above in sections I and 2.5, the information technology 

platform currently in place is adequate to support animal disease 

traceability for species and classes of livestock currently emphasized in 

the federal ADT program. Within the limitations of our current regulatory 

authority, most traceability data generated in Virginia are being captured 

electronically, albeit using some processes that are less efficient and 

accurate than desired.

One area that needs improvement is the submission and processing of 

regulatory test and vaccination charts. Information from these events is 

largely submitted on paper forms by private practitioners and manually 

entered to SCS-VA – a process that is both time consuming and error 

prone. A proposal supported by several states was submitted to USDAAPHIS-VS in August 2022 to develop a web-based application 

(“eCharts”) that would allow veterinarians to submit test and vaccination 

data online, including EID records collected in the field. These data would 

then be available for state animal health officials to review and store in 

their respective animal health databases. The proposal was not approved 

and there are no state funds available for software development, so we will 

continue to rely on manual data entry to support ADT as well as statefederal disease surveillance programs.

4.6 Resource requirements

Assuming that adequate funding is provided through state general funds 

and federal cooperative agreements for 2023 through 2026, the ADT 

program should have the resources needed to meet federal and state 

traceability goals.

4.7 Organizational needs

4.7.1 Executive support

Executive support for the ADT program is adequate and no 

organizational change within the VDACS Office of Veterinary 

Services is required to continue implementation of the ADT 

program over the next three years.
14

4.7.2 Coordination and oversight procedures

Implementation of the ADT program in Virginia is a team 

approach. The ADT Coordinator has primary responsibility for 

administering all aspects of the ADT program in Virginia. 

However, regular interaction with senior management and field 

staff provides input on a broad range of issues from regulatory 

policy considerations to specific data collection challenges. 

There is no formal industry advisory group and no 

comprehensive implementation plan. Neither is needed at this 

stage because the ADT program in Virginia has been in place for 

many years, involves staff with intimate knowledge of the 

livestock industry and has a clear understanding of what is 

needed to advance traceability.

Feedback on ADT-related issues is received from the livestock 

industry through daily informal interaction and occasional 

presentations to industry groups (e.g., updates provided on 

animal health issues to Virginia Farm Bureau, Virginia 

Cattlemen’s Association, State Dairymen’s Association).

4.7.3 Policy

The Office of Veterinary Services has revised state animal entry 

regulations to be consistent with the federal ADT Rule as well as 

state-federal animal disease programs.

4.7.4 Staffing

Assuming no major changes to current staffing levels or job 

responsibilities, personnel and expertise within the Office of 

Veterinary Services is adequate to meet state and federal ADT 

goals.

4.7.5 Budget requirements

The ADT program in Virginia is supported by general funds 

allocated by the Virginia General Assembly and federal funds 

allocated through annual cooperative agreements with USDAAPHIS-VS. In general, state funds are used to support personnel 

that contribute to the ADT program, but also have other job 

responsibilities such as administering state-federal animal health 

programs. Federal funds are used to support personnel that 

devote at least half their time to ADT and to cover operational 
15

expenses (supplies, equipment, IT services, etc. directly related 

to ADT).

Funding required from federal sources over the next 3 years is 

estimated below.

2023-24: $208,000

2024-25: $218,400

2025-26: $229,320

4.7.6 Outreach (required to be addressed within the Road Map)

Information on ADT is primarily exchanged with the livestock 

industry through frequent (daily or weekly) informal interaction. 

The program coordinator, regional veterinarians and 

administrative staff receive inquiries daily regarding issues such

as animal entry requirements, official ID requirements, premises 

registration and availability of official ID tags. In addition to 

informal interaction, OVS staff provide information on ADTrelated matters through veterinary accreditation sessions, 

presentations to industry groups and hosting of student interns 

from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. 

Veterinary staff and livestock inspectors are present at public 

livestock markets on a weekly basis and regularly provide 

information on ADT to market staff and their customers. 

Periodically, the State Veterinarian and OVS Program Manager 

provide formal presentations to industry groups on the status of 

animal health programs in Virginia, including updates on animal 

disease traceability activities.

We also publish an annual newsletter that is sent to over 100 

large animal practitioners, maintain updated content on the 

agency web site (www.vdacs.virginia.gov) and typically provide 

speakers for the annual Virginia Veterinary Conference and other

events.

4.8 Monitoring and reporting interstate movement activity

Interstate CVIs are reviewed by the Animal Import Coordinator and 

regional veterinary staff. Movement data are compiled and reported on 

quarterly ADT accomplishment reports provided to USDA-APHIS-VS.
16

V. ADVANCING TRACEABILITY 

5.1 Ranking of priorities for advancement

5.2 Implementation of objectives

Increase use of electronic identification

The VDACS Office of Veterinary Services will distribute EID tags in a 

timely fashion to veterinarians, livestock markets and producers on 

demand.

Goal: 100,000 tags per year.

To encourage the transition from visual to EID, we will continue to 

communicate with the livestock industry through regular informal contact, 

attendance at industry events, distribution of an annual newsletter to 

practitioners and maintenance of accurate information on the VDACS web 

site.

Enhance ability to track animals

Maintain automated data logger systems at livestock markets and 

supplement these systems with updated EID readers and mobile data 

collection devices (smartphones or tablets) as needed.

Goal: Maintain or replace electronic data capture systems at 17 livestock 

markets.

Assist livestock markets and buying stations with the installation of 

fixed antenna, electronic tag reader systems to record traceability 

data for large volume cattle sales. 

All data generated will be stored in the state animal health database or 

accessible through market business systems.

Goal: Improve the quality and quantity of traceability data from 8 existing 

fixed antenna systems and install 1 new system per year. The success of 

high-volume reader systems will require improvements in sale barn 

software and changes to long standing practices such as the use of back 

tags to track buyers and sellers. Currently, there is not a practical solution 

to scan and correlate back tags to EID tags at the speed of commerce, 

which presents a significant hurdle to effective traceability. We do not 

plan to use public funds to upgrade sale barn software.

Continue work with private veterinarians on adoption of e-commerce 

technologies (EID tags, EID readers and software applications) to 

capture traceability data. 

Easy to use software applications and data quality continue to be major 

impediments to advancing traceability. While substantial progress has 

been made with the use of electronic CVI applications, acquiring EID 

records and associated information from test and vaccination events 

largely depends on manual data entry.

Goal: Transition at least 5 large animal practitioners per year from paper 

forms to electronic data capture for regulatory test and vaccination events.
17

Enhance electronic sharing of data.

All traceability data will continue to be stored in SCS-VA and will 

therefore be available to state and federal animal health officials on 

demand through AHER or other federal applications.