APHIS Factsheet

Veterinary Services December 2012

Animal Disease 

Traceability 

Requirements for 

Cattle and Bison 

Moving Interstate

Q. What are the requirements for moving cattle 

and bison interstate under the final rule?

A. Unless otherwise exempt, cattle and bison will have 

to be officially identified and accompanied by an 

interstate certificate of veterinary inspection (ICVI) or 

other movement document. 

Additional traceability requirements for this group will 

be addressed in separate rulemaking in the future, 

allowing more time for APHIS to work closely with 

industry to ensure the requirements are effective and 

can be implemented.

Q. Are all interstate movements of cattle and bison 

included in the regulation?

A. No. All animals moved directly to a custom slaughter facility are exempt from the regulation. Likewise, 

regulations do not apply to the movement of livestock 

onto and from Tribal lands when the movement is 

across a State line. There are also exemptions 

specific to official identification and others specific to 

the movement documentation requirements. These 

are reviewed in more detail below.

Q. What exemptions apply to the official 

identification requirements?

A. Cattle and bison will be permanently exempt from 

the identification requirements if they are:

•	 Moved as a commuter herd with a copy of the

 commuter herd agreement or other document 

 agreed upon by both the shipping and receiving 

 States or Tribes. 

•	 Moved directly from a location in one State through

 another State to a second location in the original 

 State.

•	 Moved interstate directly to an approved tagging

site and officially identified before commingling 

 with cattle and bison from other premises or by 

 other practices that will ensure the identity of the 

 animals’ consignor is accurately maintained.

Additionally, cattle and bison moved directly to a 

recognized slaughtering establishment, or through no 

more than one approved livestock facility and then 

directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment, 

may be identified with a U.S. Department of 

Agriculture-approved backtag. However, these 

animals must be slaughtered within three days of 

leaving the ship-from premises in order to be eligible to 

use backtags.

Beef cattle under 18 months of age, unless they are 

moved interstate for shows, exhibitions, rodeos, or 

recreational events, are also exempt from the official 

identification requirement in this rule. Additional traceability requirements for this group will be addressed in 

separate rulemaking in the future, allowing more time 

for APHIS to work closely with industry to ensure the 

requirements are effective and can be implemented.

Q. What are the exemptions that apply to 

movement documents for cattle and bison?

A. Cattle and bison moved interstate must be 

accompanied by an ICVI unless:

•	 They are moved directly to a recognized

 slaughtering establishment, or directly to a 

 livestock facility approved to handle “for slaughter

 only” animals and then directly to a recognized 

 slaughtering establishment, and accompanied by 

 an owner-shipper statement. 

•	 They are moved directly to an approved livestock

 facility with an owner-shipper statement and do 

 not move interstate from the facility unless 

 accompanied by an ICVI. 

•	 They are moved from the farm of origin for

 veterinary medical examination or treatment and 

 returned to the farm of origin without change in 

 ownership. 

•	 They are moved directly from one State through

 another State and back to the original State.

•	 They are moved as a commuter herd with a copy

 of the commuter herd agreement.

Additionally, cattle and bison of any age may be moved 

between shipping and receiving States or Tribes with 

documentation other than an ICVI, such as a brand 

inspection certificate, owner-shipper statement, etc., as 

agreed upon by animal health officials in the shipping 

and receiving States or Tribes.
Q. What would be the official identification 

methods and devices for cattle moving interstate?

A. Official identification for cattle would include:

•	 An official eartag.

•	 Group/lot identification when a group/lot

 identification number is applicable.

•	 Brands registered with a recognized brand

 inspection authority and accompanied by an 

 official brand inspection certificate, when 

 determined to be official by the receiving State or 

 Tribal animal health authorities.

•	 Tattoos and identification methods acceptable

 to a breed association for registration purposes 

 and accompanied by a breed registration 

 certificate, when determined to be official by the 

 receiving State or Tribal animal health authorities.

A complete listing of official eartags can be found at: 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability/downloads/

eartag_listing.pdf

The official identification requirement for cattle and 

bison will be phased in. 

Q. What types of records must I maintain for 

interstate livestock movement? 

A. While the person responsible for the animals 

leaving their farm or ranch for interstate movement 

is required to ensure that a copy of the ICVI or other 

interstate movement document accompanies the 

shipment, there is no requirement that the producer 

maintain a copy of the movement documents. However, it is highly encouraged that herd records with 

this information be maintained to assist animal health 

officials in the event that any of the animals are part of 

a disease investigation.

Q. Where can I find more information on cattle and 

bison identification requirements for interstate 

movement?

A. More information is available at http://www.aphis.

usda.gov/traceability/ or from your State animal health

official’s office.

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United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture