ADVANCING ANIMAL DISEASE TRACEABILITY

ROAD MAP FOR

WASHINGTON STATE

A Three-Year Plan

Submitted by:

BRIAN E. JOSEPH, DVM CERTAQV

STATE VETERINARIAN

WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

1111 WASHINGTON ST SE

OLYMPIA, WA 98504-2577

(360) 902-1881

SIGNATURE: 

Submitted to:

LEONARD E. ELDRIDGE JR, DVM

PROGRAM MANAGER FOR WASHINGTON

VETERINARY SERVICES

ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

1550 IRVING STREET SW, SUITE 100,

TUMWATER, WA 98512-6368

(360) 753-9430

April 1, 2021
Table of Contents

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

II. CURRENT TRACEABILITY SITUATION ......................................................................9

2.1 Who are we? ............................................................................................................9

2.2 Where are we now?..................................................................................................9

2.3 Strengths and Obstacles...........................................................................................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 goals........................................................................................................10

4.2 Programmatic goals (Objectives)...........................................................................10

4.3 Animal disease traceability performance measures...............................................13

4.4 Data requirements..................................................................................................13

4.5 Information technology plan..................................................................................14

4.6 Resource requirements...........................................................................................15

4.7 Organizational needs..............................................................................................15

4.7.1.1 Executive support....................................................................................15

4.7.1.2 Coordination and oversight procedures..................................................15

4.7.1.3 Policy ......................................................................................................15

4.7.1.4 Staffing....................................................................................................16

4.7.1.5 Budget requirements...............................................................................16

4.7.1.6 Outreach..................................................................................................16

4.7.1.6.1 Accredited veterinarians .......................................................16

4.7.1.6.2 Livestock markets.................................................................17

4.7.1.6.3 Industry as a whole ...............................................................17

4.8 Monitoring and reporting interstate movement activity ........................................18

V. TRACEABILITY IMPLEMENTATION..........................................................................18

5.1 Ranking of priorities for advancement ..................................................................18

5.2 Implementation of objectives.............................................................18
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I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Animal identification is an integral part of animal disease surveillance, control and eradication 

programs in Washington State. Traceability is the key to protecting economic viability of animal 

agriculture during an adverse animal health event and protect our regional food supply. In order 

to respond quickly, whether it is a single incident or a full-scale outbreak, animal health officials 

need to know which animals are involved, where they are located, and what other animals might 

have been exposed. The sooner reliable data is available, impacted animals can be located, 

appropriate response measures can be taken, and disease spread can be halted. 

The ability to find infected and exposed livestock in a rapid manner will:

 Increase our state’s disease response capabilities; 

 Limit the spread of animal diseases; 

 Minimize animal losses and economic impact on the agriculture industry;

 Protect producers' livelihoods; 

 Provide sustained market access and confidence for our trading partners;

 Protect or reduce public exposure to zoonotic diseases; and

 Improve animal welfare by reducing morbidity and mortality events.

In 2013, USDA established rules to support an interstate traceability program that focuses on 

identifying certain classes of cattle when they are moved across state lines. In recent years, 

USDA and States have focused on building on to that system to create a full traceability system 

from birth to slaughter, or a “bookend system”. The bookend system includes the ability to 

apply and record official identification at the birth premises or at the first point at commingling 

and the ability to retire that official identification at harvest. 

The key objective is to promote the use of an official, electronic identification standard that 

would interface with specific disease eradication programs, interstate commerce, breed registries,

or age and source verification programs. Moving away from paper towards electronic reporting 

gains efficiencies in our ability to trace animals, reduce transcription errors and speed commerce. 

History of ADT in Washington State 2006 to present

2006

Washington Legislative House Bill 3033 created a cattle advisory committee consisting of 

twenty members across the cattle industry to evaluate animal traceability efforts in the state. 

2007

The cattle advisory committee worked to establish a separate state database to collect animal 

identification for animal disease traceability. This database would use existing animal health and 

livestock inspection information received by the state veterinarian. Funding would be a 
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combination of General Fund State and transaction based private funds. The legislature provided 

initial funding for the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) to begin 

development of a Unified Divisional Information System (UDIS). UDIS was a multi-divisional

database reaching across nine program areas.

2008-2012

The Animal Health portion of UDIS accepted data entry of livestock movement and testing 

information i.e. Interstate Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (ICVI), federal vaccination and 

test information, and import (entry) permits, along with the scanned images of the original 

documents as well as inter/intrastate livestock inspection records. This Animal Disease 

Traceability (ADT) information is shared with other state veterinarians, tribes, territories, and the 

USDA to limit the negative economic impact from an animal health event.

2013

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) implemented a traceability rule that shifted the 

burden of livestock traceability to the states. With USDA’s published emphasis on traceability 

for livestock moving interstate, increased awareness on Foreign Animal Diseases (FAD),

USDA’s future performance-based traceability standards for states, and aging UDIS database 

technology Washington’s cattle industry stressed the importance of incorporating electronic 

technology to gather traceability information. 

Our cattle industry submitted legislation, to develop an in-house ADT system for Washington 

State that encompasses two parts: the database called Animal Tracks and the electronic 

Livestock Inspection system called eLID. Animal Tracks is the central repository for animal 

health information, change of ownership information, brand recordings, and movement 

information. The eLID system allows livestock inspectors to conduct market sale and field 

inspections electronically and allows inspection information to be synchronized into Animal 

Tracks. The ADT system also supports web-based movement reporting. Currently three 

reporting options are available: the ability for licensed dairy producers and cattlemen to report 

sales of branded or unbranded cattle with an official 840 RFID tag. 

The agency-conducted rulemaking to establish a private-based fee of $0.23 cents per head on all 

Washington cattle sold, slaughtered, or that were moved out-of-state and $0.05 cents per head on 

all out-of-state cattle destined directly to slaughter to support ADT in Washington. 

2017-2018

In 2017, WSDA initiated a state funded demonstration project at Everson Auction Market

(EAM) with the goals to:

 Promote “passive” and “active” capture of RFID tags in cattle at public markets in 

Washington State;
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 Promote the use of RFID 840 tags in cattle by increasing use by market veterinarians when 

cattle are Brucellosis vaccinated, Trichomoniasis tested, or return to a premises; and

 Develop a vet module interface within the existing market software to pair RFID and backtag 

information on cattle moving through markets that do not go directly to slaughter.

2019 - 2020

Animal Tracks

WSDA is continually making investments in software and module enhancements/upgrades to 

Animal Tracks to keep up-to-date on traceability advancements and is able to accommodate data 

generated electronically in other state and commercial animal health record platforms for 

traceability. This browser-based application houses animal health records such as ICVI’s, 

federal brucellosis vaccination and test records, tuberculosis test records, trichomoniasis test 

records, import permits, quarantine/hold orders, slaughter facility RFID tag numbers and 

livestock inspection information.

Animal Tracks is able to accommodate data generated electronically in the Oregon Veterinary 

Information System (OVIS) and other state and commercial animal health record platforms 

(VSPS, GVL, etc.) that can be imported and stored for ADT.

Animal tracks also houses laboratory reports, animal identification and location information, as 

well as owner and reporting veterinarian information are captured and can used for traceability 

efforts.

Veterinarian Electronic Regulatory Record Modernization

WSDA transitioned from the states PDF fillable eCVI to OVIS. OVIS is web-based and allows 

accredited veterinarians to access a free electronic platform to generate CVIs, TB test records 

and brucellosis test/vaccination records which is automatically transmitted to the state 

veterinarian’s office when digitally signed. There are currently over 330 WA veterinarians and 

55 authorized users registered for the system. Note, authorized users are assigned by the 

veterinarian, can complete records but cannot submit because they do not have digital signature 

authority.

WSDA started charging for the paper CVIs to discourage their use because they require 

reentering, scanning and slow down our ability to trace animals. In the last 3 years, electronic 

CVI use by accredited veterinarians has increased from 3% to 75%.

Markets

WSDA worked closely with software programmers to enhance the current market management 

system for capturing official electronic individual identification at public livestock markets. All

six of the livestock markets in WA State that sell cattle use the same market system called 

“Saletime” (Everson, Enumclaw, Central Washington, Chehalis, Stockland, and Toppenish) 

where we have created an enhancement called the Saletime Veterinary Module. The 

enhancements allow the sale yard veterinarian to capture electronic ID with a wand reader and 
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pair the number with animal health information to generate an electronic CVI, Brucellosis test 

record and brucellosis vaccination record in the market system. All ADT market data is 

electronically sent to Animal Tracks, WSDA’s ADT database, real time at the close of each sale. 

Our seventh livestock market does not sell cattle so ADT efforts were focused on the other six 

markets.

USDA Inspected Harvest Facilities

As of February 2019, five slaughter facilities in Washington are capturing and sharing official 

individual identification RFID information at harvest. Currently, WSDA’s Animal Tracks can 

capture 98 percent of all animals with electronic official individual identification RFID tags 

harvested in our state. WSDA is the first state to implement a tag retirement system in the 

country and share this data with USDA. 

Supporting Veterinarians, Producers and Markets

WSDA has used local and USDA Cooperative Agreement funds to purchase tags and hand held 

readers to promote the use of RFID tags by accredited veterinarians. Seventy-eight hand held 

readers have been distributed free to veterinarians that perform more than 300 brucellosis 

vaccinations a year. In return, the veterinarian must submit records in an electronic platform.

WSDA collaborated with Oregon Department of Agriculture this year to utilize their OVIS 

System that allows free access to electronic CVIs, brucellosis vaccination and TB test records. 

Official Animal Identification Devices

All regulatory individual animal devices (except USDA AIN “840” devices that can be ordered 

by a producer from an authorized AIN vendor) are shipped from the state veterinarian’s office. 

USDA 840 RFID (OCV & White tags), Brucellosis vaccination eartags, national uniform 

eartagging system (brite tags), state issued AIN brucellosis EID tags, and other state/official 

individual identification regulatory devices are distributed and correlated to a person and 

physical address they were shipped to. WSDA defaulted to provide official RFID tags to 

accredited veterinarians; metal tags are available by request only. 

USDA begin supporting states with allotments of official RFID tags to support heifer 

replacements. Washington’s allocation is 118,000 tags. WSDA will continue to provide official 

RFID tags to accredited veterinarians to support all cattle regulatory work for vaccinations, 

testing, and inter/intra state movements as funding permits.

RFID Technology

WSDA has chosen to remain technology neutral. Currently in WA, the dairy industry represents 

almost all of the tag use as they adopted this technology for herd management in the last decade. 

We know that 80% of dairy cattle in WA are identified with Low Frequency tags. We have 

already built the infrastructure and will embrace UHF readers when USDA sets the official 

standard for UHF and producers are ready to take the step of purchasing the UHF tag and putting 
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them into their cattle. Official, electronic LF 840 RFID is used for regulatory use at markets. 

We have no funding dedicated to UHF but we are prepared to add the UHF readers to existing 

infrastructure when standards are defined and producer use warrant their use.

Dairy Calf Demonstration Project

WSDA started a calf demonstration project to promote ADT in WA. Approximately 30,000 

dairy calves from WA are exported for age and source verified programs. The project intends to 

pair electronic official RFID tags with backtag that is applied at farm of origin. Calves that leave 

the state for age and source verified programs can then be scanned for CVIs, brand inspection/ 

ECTR and animal health records can be sent electronically to the state of destination. 

Interoperability of Traceability Systems

Traceability data elements are shared between Animal Tracks and USDAs Animal Health Events 

Repository (AHER). AHER enables animal health officials to identify which State, Federal, and 

third party databases hold animal identification number records in a disease event. Traceability 

elements shared is individual identification associated with ICVIs, Federal Vaccination, and 

Federal Test Records.

ADT Program Survey Results

In November 2020, the WSDA Animal Disease Traceability Program closed a brief survey 

seeking industry comments on the program’s impacts and future direction in the State.

A total of 166 respondents representing all industry sectors contributed feedback.

Eighty-six participants benefited from the ADT program by acquiring free 840 RFID tags 

distributed to veterinarians for regulatory work, to ECTR program users at enrollment and to 

public livestock markets. Twenty-two veterinarians reported that they benefited from receiving a 

free hand held RFID reader.
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The top five choices for what projects the program should consider for the next three years 

included: 1. Continue Free RFID program and RFID tag reader program for accredited 

veterinarians and markets, 2. Continue to build ADT infrastructure in the state, 3. Start a 

Subsidized hand held reader or RFID tag program for producers, 4. Incentives for tagging (free 

testing, market value) and 5. Capture and record all RFID tag numbers on brand inspection 

documents.

Other ideas for ADT projects (in no order) included 1. Distribution of free handheld readers to 

county level industry associations (Cattlemen’s, Dairy, Feeders Associations), 2. Access to free 

chute side readers for loading and unloading trucks 3. Expanding Free 840 RFID tags to include 

ECTR renewal 4. Incentivize tagging through a Voluntary 840 RFID “certified herd” program

for pasture to pasture movement and value added programs 5. Improved Outreach and education 

efforts at interstate markets and industry/ veterinary groups.

2021 – 2024
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WSDA will work with stakeholders to identify projects to close traceability gaps in the state and 

to support USDA’s four goals to advance animal disease traceability. The priority will be given 

to segments of the cattle industry with the highest risk to spread disease, specially where animals 

are commingled or at change ownership. Auction markets, buying stations, exhibition/sale 

events, and private treaty sale processes will be the focus. In addition to increasing the use of 

low frequency 840 RFID, enhancements to market systems to assimilate high frequency 

technology as it becomes available to keep up with commerce and accommodate producers that 

embrace independent technologies for management.

II. CURRENT TRACEABILITY SITUATION

2.1 Who are we?

Animal disease traceability in Washington State is housed under the 

Washington State Department of Agriculture Animal Services Division, within 

the Animal Health Program and is under the direct supervision of the Assistant 

State Veterinarian who reports to the State Veterinarian. All regulatory 

interstate and intrastate livestock movement, cattle and horse change of 

ownership, livestock test records, and federal and state regulatory animal 

identification numbers are collected and managed by the division. This 

information is used for animal disease traceability. 

Washington’s accredited veterinarians and the livestock industry are our 

constituents that include cattle (beef and dairy), feeders, packers, slaughter

facilities and livestock markets. In addition to these partners, WSDA does not 

have one specific ADT advisory group but have found greater efficiencies in 

communicating with different industry groups, livestock committees, and 

producers to gain feedback and direction for ADT.

2.2 Where are we now?

Please see above in the executive summary under History of ADT in 

Washington State 2006 to present.

2.3 Strengths and Obstacles

The strengths of WSDA’s ADT program include an administration that 

supports the program, accredited veterinarian’s foresight that supports their 

clients and electronic platforms and use of technology to track animal 

movements. Our cattle industry supported our effort to establish local funding 

that allows the department to collect $0.23 per head to advance ADT in WA. 

This fund provides us with support for ongoing technology advancements for 

traceability, unlike most other states.
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Obstacles to traceability in Washington State are federal exemption for classes 

of cattle. All beef cattle <18 months of age are exempt from interstate 

traceability requirements. Licensed cattle dealers are not regulated under 

animal health, which creates challenges for traceability compliance and federal 

cooperative funding for resources to advance animal disease traceability. This 

funding is appropriated annually and does not provide long-term stability to 

support and promote advancing animal disease work efforts that exceed one 

year.

III. VISION AND MISSION CONTEXT FOR ADVANCING TRACEABILITY

3.1 Vision Statement

The Animal Health Program is a trusted partner of animal agriculture providing 

science-based information through education, outreach, and communication 

with our stakeholders.

3.2 Mission Statement

The Animal Health Program is dedicated to supporting the productivity, 

economic viability, and sustainability of animal agriculture by protecting 

animal and public health through the promotion of disease prevention, 

surveillance, traceability, control, and eradication through excellent customer 

service.

IV. TRACEABILITY REQUIREMENTS

4.1 Strategic Goal

Develop and implement a statewide, bookend animal disease traceability 

system based on state and federal standards that optimizes acquisition of 

animal health, ownership, and movement information to ensure consumer, 

domestic and international market confidence.

4.2 Programmatic Goals (Objectives)

Washington supports the four overarching goals set forth by USDA for 

advancing animal disease traceability. To achieve this, Washington has the 

following specific tasks planned to meet the specific USDA goals/objectives.

FY 2021

Goal 1: Increase the use of individual 840 RFID identification for animals that 

move interstate and for all accredited veterinarian regulatory work (i.e. 

Brucellosis vaccination, Brucellosis/TB/Trichomoniasis testing.);

Tasks:
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 Encourage USDA continuation of special funding to expand RFID 

infrastructure to expand distribution of RFID readers to accredited 

veterinarians to make data transmission more efficient.

 Provide 840 RFID tags for all accredited veterinarian regulatory work

including free tags for public livestock market veterinarians. Expand hand 

held reader access to veterinarians vaccinating <300 head per year. 

 Work with Oregon to develop a Brucellosis test record in OVIS to expand 

availability of electronic records for accredited veterinarians.

Goal 2: Enhance electronic sharing of animal disease traceability data for 

traceability;

Tasks:

 Meet traceability performance standards by documenting and recording 

National Priority Traces in EMRS2.

 Enhance electronic sharing of tag retirement data from harvest facilities 

between animal health officials and the Federal Animal Health Events 

Repository (AHER).

 Support livestock markets/staff to expand full adoption of the Saletime 

Veterinary Module to increase the use of electronic health records.

 Continue electronic traceability information sharing from state traceability 

database (Animal Tracks) to USDAs Animal Health Events Repository 

(AHER). Sharing of minimal data elements will allow animal health 

officials to quickly locate information sources in the event of a trace.

 Support WSDA Livestock Inspection (LID) program to capture and collect 

individual 840 RFID identification at change of ownership inspections:

 Provide equipment or software upgrades to allow electronic sharing 

of ADT data to track intrastate movement for private treaty sales.

 Provide 840 RFID tags to producers registering or renewing 

accounts in Electronic Cattle Transaction Reporting (ECTR) system 

to promote use and electronic record use for ADT. 

 Explore opportunities to support upgrades of Saletime System LID module 

to meet needs of inspectors to capture RFID tags and pair with backtags. 

(Funding may be federal, state, or a combination of both).

 Support travel of program manager and key supervisors to 

Saletime markets to benchmark observed inspections for 

efficiencies. 

Goal 3: Enhance the ability to track animals from birth to slaughter; 
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Tasks: 

 Promote the use, distribution, capture and recording of official RFID 

identification at birth premises, points of commingling/ movement and at 

slaughter to make electronic information more readily available.

 Explore other cattle segments to expand RFID infrastructure development

and tags use where cattle comingle:

 Team with Washington State University (WSU) extension to 

expand use of 840 RFID on show/exhibition animals (swine, cattle) 

with emphasis on 4H, FFA, and county fairs where their livestock is 

shown.

 Partner with cattle associations to officially identify all cattle 

moving interstate through pasture to pasture permitting. 

 Extend the work to additional calf buying stations to provide RFID 

tags and equipment to obtain full traceability from farm of origin to 

out of state destination on dairy calves.

 Provide hand held readers to county level cattlemen’s associations 

upon request. Associations would then manage a check out/ loaner

system for reading equipment to producers when working cattle.

 Support industry with establishing a “value added” RFID certified 

program. WSDA would provide tags and infrastructure, but lead by 

marketing associations (beef commission, cattle/dairy associations, 

etc.) to promote a local or WA grown product.

 Support public livestock markets to maintain /upgrade /replace /address 

additional equipment needs including computers, RFID readers, internet 

connection, cameras, etc. to enhance market traceability. 

 Develop a plan with Saletime to integrate UHF technology into existing 

LF RFID infrastructure at PLMs.

 Continue to build/upgrade infrastructure to read RFID tags for tag 

retirement at USDA inspected slaughter facilities.

 Refine upload of RFID tag data into animal tracks. 

Goal 4: Increase the use of electronic health certificates with cattle identified 

with individual official 840 RFID identification

Tasks: 

 Continue to work with calf dealers and their veterinarians to utilize 

electronic CVI systems to provide traceability from farm of origin to out of 

state destination on dairy calves.

 Work with accredited veterinarian to add 840 RFID tag numbers to 

electronic ICVIs for exempted cattle per 9 CFR Part 86.
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 Continue to perform outreach, education and support to veterinarians using 

electronic CVI systems, especially OVIS. 

FY 2022 and FY2023

WSDA will continue to build on the four overarching traceability goals listed 

in FY 2021. Due to changing level of traceability adoption across different 

agricultural sectors, WSDA will develop the annual ADT work plan to address 

traceability advancement in the different sectors. The ADT 3-Year Road map 

will be updates as needed to reflect updates to our goals.

4.3 Animal Disease Traceability Performance Measures

WSDA ADT has a proven track record and will continue completing USDA’s 

National Priority Traces (NPTs) to record Washington’s tracing capabilities. The 

NPTs will reflect tracing capabilities based on four Trace Performance Measures 

(TPMs):

1. In what state was an animal officially identified?

2. Where in the state was the animal officially identified?

3. From what state was an animal shipped?

4. From what location was an exported animal shipped?

4.4 Data Requirements

Washington ADT uses Animal Tracks as the main traceability system as 

documented in paragraph 2.2 and 2.3. Animal tracks has 24/7 accessibility to 

approved users to support traceability.

Premises Identification Numbers (PINs) are voluntarily and assigned through the 

federal State Premises Registration System (SPRS) to record shipments of 840 

devices and support stakeholders in programs that require a PIN.

Distribution of official metal (NUES) and RFID tags, accredited veterinarian 

regulatory forms, and legislatively approved identification programs are 

dispensed from the state veterinarian’s office. Shipments are recorded in Animal 

Tracks. RFID 840 devices are recorded in both Animal Tracks and USDA Animal 

Identification Number Management System. To support increase use of RFID, 

WSDA has reserved to maintain distribution of NUES tags to accredited 

veterinarians only upon request. 

Interstate CVIs are shared with receiving states at least weekly, and interstate 

CVIs in violation of federal regulations are worked through our compliance 
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program and coordinated with our AVIC. WSDA issues temporary grazing 

permits (aka interstate commuter herd agreements) to producers in states that 

share a common border with Washington. Temporary grazing permits are 

approved by both states and are valid for 6 months. All cattle are inspected prior 

to movement out-of-state. The cattle, listed on the grazing permit, are required to 

move only to the destination specified on the grazing permit and return to the 

location of origin. WSDA receives ~75 requests for grazing permits in a paper 

format per year.

4.5 Information Technology Plan

Information technology (IT) support is crucial to enhancing and maintaining the 

statewide infrastructure for our animal traceability program. We utilize Animal 

Tracks to collect and record animal movement information, to make it 

electronically searchable. 

The ADT Coordinator is the lead person for working with our database developer 

on enhancements/issues to enhance ADT that has created database features to 

increase the state veterinarian’s ability to collect animal movement information 

through additional or enhanced digital interfaces such as the ability to upload data 

from markets and RFID tag numbers from slaughter facilities into animal tracks. 

WSDA is continually making investments in software and module 

enhancements/upgrades to Animal Tracks to keep up-to-date on traceability 

advancements and is able to accommodate data generated electronically in other 

state and commercial animal health record platforms for traceability. This 

browser-based application houses animal health records such as ICVI’s, federal 

brucellosis vaccination and test records, tuberculosis test records, trichomoniasis 

test records, import permits, quarantine/hold orders, slaughter facility RFID tag 

numbers and livestock inspection information. 

Animal Tracks is able to accommodate data generated electronically in the 

Oregon Veterinary Information System (OVIS) and other state and commercial 

animal health record platforms (VSPS, GVL, etc.) that can be imported and stored 

for ADT.

Animal tracks also houses all the reportable animal disease data that is captured 

on a new electronic platform. Laboratory reports, Animal identification and 

location information, as well as owner and reporting veterinarian information are 

captured and can used for traceability efforts.
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As new opportunities for advancement of Washington’s IT portion of the animal 

traceability program are identified, they will be fully explored and implemented 

when and where possible.

4.6 Resource Requirements

Key impediments to having a successful animal traceability program are limited 

financial and human resources. Washington will address these needs in the 

cooperative agreement.

4.7 Organizational Needs

Division organizational transformations are not needed to implement the ADT 

road map at this time.

4.7.1 Executive Support

Washington’s current governor and agency director fully support a 

robust animal disease traceability system for the well-being of the 

livestock industry in our state and have made it a priority in the last 3 

years.

4.7.2 Coordination and Oversight Procedures

ADT in Washington is overseen by the assistant state veterinarian and 

is aligned under the state veterinarian Animal Health program. 

4.7.3 Policy

Legislative processes form the authority for the Animal Health program 

to support the citizens of Washington State. The Revised Code of 

Washington (RCW), tile 16 is the governing laws for Animals and 

Livestock, ADT is one section of those governing laws. Additionally, 

ADT information is exempt from public disclosure under RCW 

42.56.380 Agriculture and livestock. 

ADT also collaborates with our established livestock associations, the 

Washington Beef Commission, and private cattle sectors for consulting 

on animal disease traceability; to ensure traceability is achieved.

In Dec 2017, WSDA filed two CR-101’s (preproposal statement of 

inquiries) and mailed these out to interested parties (licensed feedlots, 

licensed dairies, public livestock markets, brand holders, and large 

animal veterinarians).

The CR 101’s proposed to amend chapters 16-86 and 16-604 WAC to 

require cattle to be individually identified with an official USDA 
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Radio-Frequency Identification device (RFID) instead of a USDA 

official metal tag when:

 Female cattle receive brucellosis vaccination;

 Bulls are sampled for trichomoniasis; and

 Sexually intact cattle and bison over 18 months of age that are 

presented for sale at a public livestock market. 

The preproposal failed and the process never moved to the CR-102, 

rule phase. 

4.7.4 Staffing

Animal disease traceability is centralized; all programs fully utilize 

existing staff with traceability information gathering overlapping with 

other animal health requirements and requirements in codified statues.

4.7.5 Budget Requirements

The program manager and ADT coordinator is supported by state 

general funding, state local funds, provided by an industry approved 

private-based fee of $0.23 cents per head on all Washington cattle sold, 

slaughtered, or that were moved out-of-state and $0.05 cents per head 

on all out-of-state cattle slaughter. A portion of this funding supports 

our livestock inspectors with data capture devices and supplies, data 

entry staff to enter animal health information into the ADT system and 

IT support for system software enhancements. 

Federal resources are utilized to support ADT cooperative agreement 

annual work plan objectives. Our work efforts will adjust to annual 

federal cooperative resources allotted to support animal disease 

traceability work efforts. Currently there are no federal cost share 

requirements for ADT federal work efforts.

4.7.6 Outreach

4.7.6.1 Accredited Veterinarians

WSDA field staff would integrate advancing animal 

traceability information into their program outreach materials 

when interacting with accredited veterinarians in our state. 

ADT is providing information to veterinarians in the WA 

State News blasts that go out to the accredited vet email list, 

Animal Health Updates, quarterly e-newsletter, during 

accreditation training where individuals practice issuing an 

electronic CVI and provided information to sign up for the 
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free OVIS system. The ADT coordinator and his staff 

regularly engage veterinarians with one on one training of the 

OVIS system, the use of handheld readers and data transfer. 

The Assistant State Veterinarian has presented at WSVMA 

Pacific NW Veterinary Conference annually to provide ADT 

project updates and provide resources to veterinarians. 

Teaching efforts at Washington State University to the 

veterinary technician programs where students are introduced 

to the importance of traceability, learn about official ID and 

accurate CVI completions, and become familiar with 

electronic health, vaccination, and testing options.

4.7.6.2 Livestock Markets

Livestock markets play a key role in implementing electronic 

identification in cattle and they will continue to be key 

players for the future enhancements for ADT. We have 

collaborated with individual livestock market operators and 

the markets software developer, Saletime Systems, to create 

an electronic veterinary module outlined under the Executive 

Summary. Additionally, livestock markets allow animal 

health to stock brochures and other handout materials 

explaining identification and movement requirements of 

covered livestock species.

These markets have an agreement with ADT that RFID will 

be used by the regulatory veterinarian to support the Saletime 

Veterinarian Module. To help mitigate the spread of bovine 

disease, Animal health field veterinarians have assigned 

livestock markets; a requirement is routine surveillance i.e. to 

educated and enforce state animal health regulatory 

requirements. Field staff also conduct market inspections 

with USDA veterinarian field staff to conduct approved 

livestock market facility agreement inspections; to insure 

those provisions are met.

4.7.6.3 Industry as a Whole

Animal health routinely communicates with the livestock and 

poultry industries. Our communications representative works 

closely with industry leaders, USDA APHIS VS, and 
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Washington State University to ensure consistent messaging 

on traceability and other topics. ADT/Animal Health is 

frequently represented at industry meetings, conventions, and 

exhibitions to interact with producers and other stakeholders. 

Livestock and poultry industries also participate in animal 

health emergency exercises where they see the benefits of 

traceability in real-life scenarios.

4.8 Monitoring and Reporting Interstate Movement Activity

Interstate CVIs for import and export are reviewed by animal health permitting 

staff for completion of data and satisfaction of movement requirements. Issuing 

veterinarians receive a letter of education for all deficiencies, and all ADT 

violations are reported to the AVIC for further investigation. Animal Health 

Compliance program works with USDA AVIC and field veterinarians to conduct 

livestock market compliance audits on cattle traveling interstate. Other 

compliance actions on covered livestock is shared with the AVIC.

ADT uses Animal Tracks to capture and sort information from interstate CVIs, 

including origin name, city, and state; destination name, city and state; issuing 

veterinarian; issue date; certificate number; species; identification and number of 

animals. ADT works with animal health staff to monitors and reports movement 

of other covered livestock to support USDA cooperative agreements, as well as 

NPIP poultry flocks submitting VS 9-3 forms.

Animal disease traceability statistics stipulated by the ADT cooperative 

agreement will be reported quarterly, as required.

V. TRACEABILITY IMPLEMENTATION

5.1 Ranking of Priorities for Advancement

Specific programmatic goals to advance animal disease traceability in 

Washington are outlined in section 4.2 for each year. Prioritization will be 

determined cooperatively between the state veterinarian, assistant state 

veterinarian and the AVIC.

5.2 Implementation of Objectives

WSDA will follow our roadmap objectives and will proportionally adjust to 

annual federal cooperative resources to support and/or exceed these objectives. 

The annual workplan will identify and describe how each project/objective will 

be conducted.