By Jamie Martin
Confusion surrounds recent discussions about cattle identification, Electronic Identification (EID) tags, and traceability. Since 2013, a traceability rule has been in place for specific cattle moved between states.
These include breeding beef cattle over 18 months old, dairy cattle, and cattle used for shows or events. These animals require an official ID and a certificate of veterinary inspection. Until now, approved metal tags or EID tags have been acceptable.
A recent amendment to this rule requires a switch to ID tags readable visually and electronically for the same cattle categories. This is not a new mandate, but a change in the format of the required ID.
Funding is available to assist producers with this transition. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 allocated $15 million for electronic identification and infrastructure for cattle and bison.
The author emphasizes that this article focuses on facts and avoids political opinions. The key takeaway is that producers who already tag their cattle under the existing rule simply need to switch to a dual-function electronic and visual tag.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-imaginegolf
Categories: National