ADVANCING ADT

ROAD MAP FOR

INDIANA

A Three-Year Plan

Submitted by:

BRET D. MARSH, DVM

STATE VETERINARIAN

INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ANIMAL HEALTH

DISCOVERY HALL, SUITE 100

1202 EAST 38TH STREET, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46205

317-544-2400

Submitted to:

ANGELA Y. HINES, DVM, MPH

AREA VETERINARIAN FOR INDIANA

VETERINARY SERVICES

ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

5685 LAFAYETTE ROAD, SUITE 400, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46254

317-347-3120

Date: April 1, 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?............................................................................................................. 4

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....................... 8

3.1 Vision and mission statement ............................................................................................. 8

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

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

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

4.3 Animal Disease Traceability performance measures.......................................................... 9

4.4 Data requirements............................................................................................................. 10

4.5 Information technology plan............................................................................................. 10

4.6 Resource requirements...................................................................................................... 10

4.7 Organizational needs......................................................................................................... 10

4.7.1 Executive support.......................................................................................... 10

4.7.2 Coordination and oversight procedures......................................................... 10

4.7.3 Policy............................................................................................................. 10

4.7.4 Staffing.......................................................................................................... 11

4.7.5 Budget requirements ..................................................................................... 11

4.7.6 Outreach ........................................................................................................ 11

4.7.6.1 Accredited veterinarians................................................................... 12

4.7.6.2 Livestock markets ............................................................................ 12

4.7.6.3 Industry as a whole........................................................................... 12

V. ADVANCING TRACEABILITY........................................................................................... 13

5.1 Ranking of priorities for advancement ............................................................................. 13

5.2 Implementation of objectives............................................................................................ 13
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I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) is implementing several 

strategies to improve animal disease traceability in Indiana. 

• Premises Registration: Since 2005 Indiana law has required any person that 

buys, sells or exhibits cattle, swine, sheep, goats and captive cervids to 

register their livestock premise(s) with BOAH. 

• Traceability Rules: In 2014, BOAH rewrote the Indiana state animal disease 

traceability rules to align them with the USDA APHIS final rule on 

traceability, clarify requirements for moving animals within the state, and

enhance record keeping by livestock producers. BOAH will review and 

amend rules as needed to advance traceability goals. 

• Collaboration: BOAH has and will continue to collaborate with livestock and 

poultry farmers, livestock markets, veterinarians and other interested 

groups to implement reasonable and effective changes in the types of 

livestock identification and traceability documentation utilized. 

• Technology: BOAH has emphasized the use of improved technology and 

techniques within common production and marketing practices. Substantial 

progress has been made in the use of electronic identification and electronic 

traceability documentation. Continued emphasis and development of 

electronic identification devices, electronic documentation options and 

collecting, moving and accessing data electronically are high priority 

objectives for the traceability program. 

Sustained incremental changes are producing real improvements in the capacity 

for timely animal disease traceability in Indiana. BOAH is committed to continue 

to lead these ongoing efforts on behalf of the citizens of Indiana. 

II. CURRENT TRACEABILITY SITUATION

2.1 Who are we?

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health is charged with preventing, 

controlling and eradicating diseases and pests of animals that present an

economic or public health hazard to the citizens of the state. 

The board consists of 11 members appointed by the Governor. Seven of 

those members represent the following livestock and poultry industries: 

equine, companion animals, cattle, dairy, swine, goats and sheep, and 

poultry. Additionally, four members are appointed to represent: general 

veterinary medicine (2), livestock markets, and the Purdue College of 

Veterinary Medicine.
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2.2 Where are we now?

Premises Registration

Since 2006, Indiana BOAH has required registration of premises associated 

with buying, selling or exhibiting cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and cervids. 

BOAH believes the compliance rate to be very good. Premises registration 

provides an excellent base for animal disease traceability. 

Other livestock species and poultry may register premises in the Indiana 

program. The commercial poultry industry participates in the premises 

registration program with all Indiana National Poultry Improvement Plan 

(NPIP) participants’ premises registered. 

BOAH also includes in the database other locations that are important to the 

animal disease control mission, for example: livestock markets, aquaculture 

facilities, laboratories, slaughter plants and egg processors. There are also 

more than 3000 premises in the system for out of state locations that 

interface often with BOAH. As of December 31, 2021, there were 69,300 

active premises in Indiana’s USAHERDS animal health database.

Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVI)

In June 2013, the Board of Animal Health began distributing a new 

electronic Certificate of Veterinary Inspection for use by Indiana 

veterinarians preparing certificates of veterinary inspection (CVI) for

Indiana animals. The eCVI was developed collaboratively by the Colorado 

and Kansas Departments of Agriculture and was customized for use in 

Indiana. A data bridge that facilitates electronic movement of the CVI data 

into BOAH’s animal health database (USAHERDS) has been developed 

and implemented. 

In 2014, BOAH began offering an iPad application for creation of 

certificates of veterinary inspection, the iCVI. The iCVI has gone through 

a couple changes in the past few years and has been upgraded to the 

AgMove CVI. The application is both for mobile phones as well as a 

web-based application that can be used with a computer with internet 

access. The information loads into the HERDS database automatically. 

The AgMove CVI will be retired from use in April 2022. 

Indiana has promoted the use of electronic certificates of veterinary 

inspection by accredited veterinarians for years. BOAH has approved the 

use of several eCVI forms, including forms submitted by private vendors 

such as GlobalVetink and VetSentry and the USDA VSPS system form. 

The number of animal health certificates being created, submitted and 

routed electronically in Indiana continues to increase. 
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BOAH will continue to work with companies and other states to 

implement new versions of electronic documentation. BOAH is currently 

working with 17 other states to implement a new electronic certificate of 

veterinary inspection option, the VET-CVI. BOAH expects this option to 

be available for use in Indiana in 2022. 

Since introduction of the Indiana eCVI, BOAH Animal Programs staff have 

trained a high percentage of Indiana veterinarians on use of electronic 

certificates of veterinary inspection tools. BOAH meets with interested 

veterinary clinics directly to implement electronic certificate of veterinary 

inspection technology. BOAH provides training for veterinarians and their 

staff in their clinic which helps transition practitioners to using these 

electronic forms. This training is ongoing upon request. 

Indiana uses USAHERDS to manage animal disease traceability 

information. The USAHERDS system provides BOAH the platform and 

power necessary to synthesize animal disease traceability information. 

Animal disease traceability information recorded in USAHERDS provides 

the launching point for planning, preparedness, response, and recovery to 

animal disease related incidences. BOAH utilizes the system for recording 

information, documenting compliance with program standards and 

reporting results. BOAH continues to discover new and improved methods 

for utilizing the USAHERDS system. BOAH actively participates in a 

multi-state USAHERDS user group that coordinates improvements to

USAHERDS through an ongoing collaborative process. 

Permits

Early in 2014, BOAH launched two new electronic methods for customers 

to use when applying for livestock movement permits. The new methods 

were intended to make the permitting process more convenient for

constituents, to improve the quality of the information submitted and 

facilitate efficiency managing information upon receipt. A priority was 

minimizing use of an answering machine and phone calls. Customers 

immediately began using the electronic methods and these methods quickly 

became the predominate method for obtaining movement permits. 

In 2021, BOAH adopted a rule that eliminated the requirement for a preentry permit for swine and cattle if the person moving the animals into the 

state utilized an electronic certificate of veterinary inspection for the 

movement. BOAH expects the number of permits issued to decline because 

the use of electronic certificates of veterinary inspections will likely 

continue to increase in the future. 

Electronic Identification

Indiana BOAH encourages livestock producers to transition to 840 tags for 

identification of their animals. In October 2008, the Indiana State Board of 
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Animal Health launched the 840 RFID Tag Pilot Program for cattle. At that 

time, BOAH was interested in promoting advancements in animal 

identification technologies and improvements in traceability, using radio 

frequency identification (RFID). From 2008-2010, with state and federal 

cooperative agreement funding, BOAH purchased 840 RFID tags, wand 

readers and handheld PDAs. Beginning in 2008, BOAH provided these tags 

to cattle producers free of charge for the purpose of introducing the

technology. On October 2010, BOAH celebrated the two-year anniversary 

of the 840 RFID Pilot Program with 110,000 tags having been allocated 

during the pilot period. During this time, BOAH worked with veterinarians 

and exhibition managers to promote the use of the tags on farms and at fairs 

and exhibitions. BOAH no longer provides these tags, but many producers 

have chosen to continue using them. Most large dairies in Indiana have 

transitioned to using 840 ID. Many other cattle operations have adopted 840 

ID (e.g., heifer growers, beef producers, etc.).

In 2010, BOAH teamed with Indiana 4-H and the Indiana Beef Cattle 

Association to facilitate use of 840 RFID tags in exhibition cattle. As a 

result of this partnership, since 2010, 4-H cattle exhibitions and the Hoosier 

Beef Congress (the nation’s largest youth cattle show) have had an ongoing 

requirement for the use of 840 RFID tags at their events. The success of 840 

tags in 4-H cattle and the Beef Congress led BOAH to seek opportunities 

for their use in other species. BOAH cooperated with Indiana 4-H and the 

Indiana State Fair (ISF) to use this technology in swine at the 2012 Indiana 

State Fair swine show. BOAH provided 2000 tags and support staff to tag 

swine for the 2012 ISF. The State Fair swine show has used 840 RFID tags 

for the show each year since. Other exhibitions have transitioned to this 

form of official identification for their shows. 

In 2013, the BOAH staff worked closely with the Purdue University 

Extension and county and state fair management on the distribution and use 

of 840 RFID tags for swine exhibitions, such as 4-H fairs. Managers of 80

of Indiana’s 92 county fairs required 840 RFID tags for identification of 

swine. The Indiana State Fair required 840 RFID tags for all cattle and 

swine exhibits. Those 80 fairs meant 10,475 (840 RFID) tags were 

distributed to swine exhibitors. A grant from the Indiana State Department 

of Agriculture covered the cost of the swine tags for the 4-H exhibitors. 840 

RFID tags are now the standard for 4-H shows in the state. BOAH continues 

to work with county and state fair management on animal identification 

opportunities. 

BOAH has facilitated official identification of commercial swine by 

working with swine veterinarians and swine farmers to implement the use 

of official identification ear tags and widespread use of electronic 

certificates of veterinary inspection. BOAH has fostered the use of 
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commuter herd agreements by working with farmers, veterinarians and 

trading states. 

Beginning in 2014, BOAH has worked directly with key livestock markets 

to introduce electronic recording of electronic identification in the markets 

by using wands, PDAs, and panel readers. BOAH staff consulted with 

markets, ensured each market had the equipment necessary to implement 

the technology and provided staff to assist in making the technology and the 

process work in each market. BOAH continues to work with markets to 

implement electronic identification, reading and record keeping in markets. 

BOAH strongly encourages livestock producers to transition to 840 tags for 

identification of their animals. In 2019, BOAH implemented a temporary

“turn-in trade-up” program that allowed producers to trade in some of their 

old technology animal tags in exchange for electronic 840 tags. 

The number of electronic 840 tags distributed to Indiana producers 

continues to increase each year. BOAH will continue to support use of 

electronic official identification. 

Traceability Rules

In 2013, BOAH began the process to review and revise all the state animal 

health rules that relate to the movement of animals and traceability. BOAH 

completed the rulemaking process in 2014 and began implementing 

traceability rule education programs. BOAH will continue to modify agency 

rules as needed to maintain consistency with national standards and advance 

animal disease traceability.

Collaboration 

BOAH has engaged in a long-term collaboration with livestock and poultry 

producers, veterinarians, livestock markets and transporters to implement 

the traceability system. BOAH works with state animal health officials in 

states with high trading volume with Indiana to develop state-to-state 

agreements that facilitate animal disease traceability and trade between the 

states. BOAH works with USDA APHIS VS to monitor traceability 

performance and coordinate ADT compliance activities. 

2.3 Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths 

• Organizational commitment

• USAHERDS database

• Progressin the marketplace use of electronic identification and 

documentation. 
8

Weaknesses

• Room for improvement in communicating traceability 

information from industry to the State of Indiana – timeliness and 

in a format that is easily manipulated. 

• Continued use of paper traceability documentation in some 

sectors. 

• Use of non-electronic means of official identification in some 

sectors. 

2.4 Opportunities and Threats

Opportunities

• Improvements in information technology products –

programming, security, hardware and communications. 

• Increased acceptance of technological solutions in veterinary 

clinics and markets. 

Threats

• Availability of electronic ear tags (supply chain issues). 

• Cost of information technology. 

• Maintaining computer programs needed for traceability as 

information technology architecture and standards evolve. 

• Information technology security – hackers, phishing, viruses. 

2.5 Inventory of existing infrastructure and suitability assessment

Existing infrastructure includes:

o Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVI)

• Paper CVIs

• Electronic CVIs – all eCVI’s that have been found 

consistent with the national standards by the National 

Assembly of State Animal Health Officials. 

o State of Indiana electronic permitting system.

o USAHERDS database system.

o API interfaces with diagnostic laboratories. 

o Electronic ear tag reading devices (wand readers) and software. 

o Laptops, printers/scanners and cell phones to capture, manipulate and 

communicate traceability information. 

III. VISION AND MISSION CONTEXT FOR ADVANCING TRACEABILITY

3.1 Vision and Mission Statement

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health is charged with:

(1) the prevention, detection, control, and eradication of diseases and 

pests affecting the health of animals within and in transit through 
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Indiana; and

(2) the production, manufacture, processing, and distribution of 

products derived from animals; to control health hazards that may 

threaten the public health and welfare of the citizens of Indiana. IC 15-

17-3-11. 

IV. TRACEABILITY REQUIREMENTS

In 2019, BOAH created an agency traceability working group to evaluate traceability 

implementation, research and propose changes to improve implementation and work 

with all parties to ensure implementation of improvements to the traceability system. 

This working group continues to work towards advancing traceability in the state.

4.1 Strategic goal(s)

Exceed federal requirements for traceability and implement an animal 

disease traceability system that is effective for Indiana.

4.2 Programmatic goals (objectives)

Expand the use of official identification in markets, veterinary practices and 

on the farm. Emphasis the use of 840 RFID identification to facilitate 

electronic documentation and record keeping.

Expand the use of electronic documentation for animal movements and 

collection and transfer of identification and movement data electronically 

to facilitate rapid traces of animals for disease control purposes. 

Ranking of priorities for advancement:

1. Continued improvement in use of electronic official identification 

devices and electronic traceability documentation. 

2. Continued advancement of electronic data collection, storage, 

transfer and retrieval. 

4.3 ADT Trace Performance Measures (TPMs)

BOAH will accomplish the objectives in this Roadmap by collaborating 

with farmers, livestock markets, veterinarians, tag suppliers, Cooperative 

Extension Service, USDA APHIS VS and other interested parties to 

implement Indiana’s traceability plan. BOAH’s traceability efforts have

been received positively. With some additional work to make 

improvements, BOAH is confident that additional improvements to animal 

disease traceability will occur in a timely and efficient manner. 

BOAH is committed to using performance measures for evaluating the 

traceability program. Every time an officially identified animal is traced,

BOAH staff members review the time it takes to accomplish relevant tasks. 

BOAH reviews any issues associated with meeting standards and takes
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steps to correct any shortcomings. Each trace, whether an actual trace or an

exercise, is recorded on the appropriate forms and reported to the 

appropriate offices. The traces are summarized and reported quarterly. The

Indiana State Board of Animal Health intends to participate in development 

of national traceability standards in the future. 

4.4 Data requirements

BOAH collects traceability data. The data is stored in the agency database,

USAHERDS. BOAH retrieves traceability data from USAHERDS. BOAH 

will continue to work on methods that will streamline data collection, data 

entry into USAHERDS and reporting. 

4.5 Information technology plan

BOAH uses USAHERDS to store and retrieve data. BOAH utilizes the AIN 

manager program for traceability. Both systems are available 24/7 for IN 

traceability users. BOAH utilizes personal computers and other data 

collection devices (smart phones, tablets and wand readers) to collect data 

in the field and transmit the data for entry into USAHERDS. 

4.6 Resource requirements

USAHERDS user states need to continue to update and improve the 

interface between USAHERDS and other systems, such as the 

NVSL/NAHLN database system and other laboratory systems for 

laboratory results. 

Indiana will continue to work on improved methods to communicate 

information to other states. 

BOAH will continue to work with livestock markets to implement 

electronic identification and data capture technology to improve animal 

identification and documentation. 

BOAH will continue to research and implement changes necessary to 

automate data entry and other record keeping functions. 

4.7 Organizational needs

4.7.1 Executive support

Indiana’s executive leadership and legislature support animal 

disease traceability.

4.7.2 Coordination and oversight procedures

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health is the coordinating and 

oversight body for animal disease traceability in Indiana. The 

Indiana State Veterinarian leads traceability programs for the 

Board of Animal Health. The Animal Programs Department

Director is primarily responsible for managing traceability 

programs. 

4.7.3 Policy
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Indiana’s animal health statute and rules are sufficient to 

accomplish traceability requirements. BOAH completed revisions 

to state rules relating to traceability in 2014. BOAH will evaluate 

if the rules should be amended based on the implementation 

experience. 

4.7.4 Staffing

BOAH’s staffing resources are dictated by the state general fund 

budget allocation. Indiana’s personnel policy is dictated by a state 

personnel statute. 

4.7.5 Budget requirements

BOAH receives one line item from the state legislature for animal 

health which includes all funding for animal disease traceability.

BOAH utilizes USDA cooperative agreement funds to supplement 

state appropriations. BOAH anticipates requiring funds each year 

from outside the state line-item appropriation to accomplish

traceability objectives.

Cost sharing is accomplished by BOAH paying for all traceability 

activity outside of funds provided by USDA. BOAH cost shares 

by contributing staff hours for traceability activities, paying for 

information technology infrastructure and purchasing necessary 

supplies and equipment. 

Judicious use of permanent staff and enhancements to 

USAHERDS to facilitate ease of data entry and retrieval provide 

a buffer against shortfalls. However, reductions in state 

appropriations will lead to fewer staff to complete traceability 

implementation. 

The long-term goal is to encourage livestock producers and 

markets to invest their own funds in electronic animal 

identification and electronic identification and records

infrastructure. Education and demonstration will show producers 

and markets the utility of electronic traceability and increase their 

willingness to purchase the needed hardware themselves.

BOAH is not aware of any other funding sources.

4.7.6 Outreach 

BOAH’s website provides traceability information materials for 

farmers, accredited veterinarians, livestock markets and other

industry partners. BOAH will present the Indiana traceability 

program to livestock farmers, veterinarians and livestock markets 
12

at industry meetings and personal visits to key industry 

participants, in addition to regular communication via industry 

magazines/newsletters. 

4.7.6.1 Accredited veterinarians

BOAH uses quarterly updates distributed by email, 

fax and USPS to inform accredited veterinarians of 

traceability needs. 

BOAH provides veterinary continuing education on 

animal health matters, including traceability, at the 

Purdue Veterinary Conference and the Indiana 

Veterinary Medical Association annual meetings for 

state-licensed veterinarians. These sessions qualify 

for required training under the USDA accreditation 

program. BOAH and USDA collaborate to instruct 

new veterinary graduates about official animal health 

programs, including traceability programs. 

BOAH provides onsite training and consultation to 

veterinary practices on animal disease traceability. 

Key messages are emphasized during these visits 

such as encouraging the use of electronic certificates 

of veterinary inspection and TB MIMS technology

(with the APHIS ID Coordinator for Indiana). 

4.7.6.2 Livestock Markets

BOAH rules require livestock markets to maintain 

traceability records. Indiana licensed livestock 

markets are approved tagging sites under the Indiana 

traceability rules. BOAH is working with individual 

markets to improve the use of official identification, 

data collection and reporting of traceability 

information. BOAH will utilize cooperative 

agreement funds to purchase electronic identification 

reading equipment to assist markets in transitioning 

to 840 electronic identification devices and 

automated recording of identification information. 

4.7.6.3 Industry as a whole

Indiana has a broad and deep animal agriculture 

industry. Information on the Indiana industry is 

available online in NASS reports.
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BOAH attends and briefs farmers at industry 

association meetings and trade shows. Sectors 

include beef, dairy, pork, sheep and goats, farmed 

cervids and equine. 

BOAH works closely with Purdue Extension 

Service to promote 840 use and understanding, 

including through the 4-H program. 

The state veterinarian briefs the BOAH Board on

traceability during the Board’s quarterly

meetings. The Board provides input at these 

meetings.

BOAH’s website provides traceability information

to the public: https://www.in.gov/boah/. 

BOAH works regularly with exhibition managers 

to integrate premises ID, 840 RFID and RFID 

reader technology into exhibition management 

BOAH works with individual producers to expand 

the use of 840 RFID into their production 

management. 

Indiana’s under-represented and under-served 

communities are included as their needs and

BOAH’s needs are identified.

V. ADVANCING TRACEABILITY 

5.1 Ranking of priorities for advancement 

Priorities over the next three years. All projects are interrelated and of equal 

importance. Work in each area will be simultaneous. 

5.2 Implementation of objectives

Encourage transition to electronic ID and electronic documentation 

 Continue to evaluate and approve electronic documentation 

options for use in Indiana as they become available. Communicate 

electronic options to veterinary clinics and encourage their use. 

Train veterinary clinic staffs on electronic options as needed. 

Provide online tutorials for veterinarians and staff. Communicate 

electronic options to markets and high-volume users. Provide 
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electronic ID readers to markets. Train market staff on readers and 

electronic documentation options. 

Integration of electronic data – documentation

 Continue work to establish and improve the electronic interface 

between BOAH and other systems that create and route electronic 

certificates of veterinary inspection, test results and other 

traceability information/documentation. Goal is to minimize the 

amount of human intervention needed to receive and store 

electronic traceability information. 

Database maintenance and enhancements

 Continue to maintain and improve the Indiana database 

(USAHERDS) that is used for all traceability functions. Areas of 

focus will include updating and improving database architecture

and security, data extraction, manipulation and analysis and user 

experience.