Animal Disease Traceability (ADT)
Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) is a cooperative program that is jointly funded and administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC).
ADT is knowing where and when diseased and at-risk animals are or have been. It is important to ensure a rapid response when animal disease events take place. Although ADT does not prevent disease, an efficient and accurate traceability system reduces the number of animals and response time involved in a disease investigation, which reduces the economic impact on owners and affected communities.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on May 9, 2024. The rule enhancing traceability is in effect beginning November 5, 2024.
New requirements include official identification (ID) ear tags be visually and electronically readable for official use for interstate movement of certain cattle and bison and revises and clarifies certain record requirements related to cattle. The final rule applies to:
- Sexually intact cattle and bison 18 months of age or older
- All dairy cattle
- Cattle and bison of any age for rodeo or recreation events
- Cattle or bison of any age used for shows or exhibition
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General Information
- TAHC Statutes & Rules
- USDA ADT Website
Premises, Location & Flock Registration
There are three nationally recognized identification number options: premises identification numbers (PINs), location Identifiers (LIDs), and scrapie flock identification (ID) numbers.
Before an official identification device can be ordered, owners or applicators must be assigned one of these nationally unique numbers. Once a PIN, LID or Scrapie Flock ID has been assigned, the owner or applicator will provide the number to the official tag distributor.
To request a PIN, LID, or scrapie flock ID contact the TAHC Animal Disease Traceability department at animal_id@tahc.texas.gov or 512-719-0733.
Premises Identification Numbers
A national premises identification number (PIN) is a unique number, permanently assigned to a physical address where livestock animals are located. All owner and premises information collected is stored and maintained in a federal database. Texas utilizes the USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) provided Premises Management System to obtain a PIN from the federal allocator. A PIN consists of seven alphanumeric characters, beginning with two zeros.
Location Identifiers
Texas has a state system and process for issuing a location identifier (LID). A LID is a unique number permanently assigned to an owner’s contact and operation information, not a specific premises, and then stored in a state administered database. The information collected is not shared with the federal system, only the LID number is reported to the federal system as a valid number. All LIDs start with the state postal abbreviation (TX) followed by six random alphanumeric characters, ensuring the LID is nationally unique.
Scrapie Flock Identification Numbers
A scrapie flock identification number is a unique number, permanently assigned to a group of animals managed as a unit on one or more premises and under the same ownership. The scrapie flock ID number must be recorded in and linked to one or more PINs or LIDs in the National Scrapie Database to obtain 840 tags or microchips.
Official Identification
Official identification is fundamental to traceability and animal disease programs. Cattle, sheep, goats, swine and other livestock are subject to official identification requirements as outlined by the USDA and TAHC regulations.
Producers are encouraged to contact their veterinarian or TAHC to determine which method of tagging will be best for their operation.
Official Identification Distributors and Manufacturers*
*This is not a comprehensive list of distributors or manufacturers.
Veterinarians interested in becoming an Animal Identification (AIN) device manager (tag distributor) are invited to read the USDA-APHIS AIN Device Manager Guidance Document.
Electronic Traceability
Electronic identification (EID) and records for livestock movement can help safeguard animal health with rapid tracing of sick or exposed animals and a rapid response to animal diseases.
Official EID are USDA approved official tags that have a visible 15-digit number starting with 840 printed on them that matches the electronic chip inside the tag, are stamped with the US shield, and say "unlawful to remove."
Official tags can be ordered from a manufacturer, distributor or, for Texas residents, the TAHC animal disease traceability (ADT) department.
Electronic Identification Readers*
Electronic identification tags do not require a reader to be used. However, using EID readers to scan tags, rather than manually reading, makes the process quicker, easier, and more accurate for recordkeeping. Additional information can be found on individual company's websites.
*This is not a comprehensive list of distributors or manufacturers.
Electronic Identification Applicators
Electronic identification tags should be placed with the correct applicator. Not all applicators work with all tags, and higher tag retention may result from using the correct applicator with the correct tag. Different types of applicators or taggers include:
- Manual taggers
- Retractomatic
- Pneumatic
- Electric
Additional information can be found from individual manufacturers, distributors, and companies.
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General Information
- Acceptable Forms of Official Identification
- Sheep & Goats: ID Requirements
- Transition to Electronic ID
- Tag Allocation Partner login
Animal Specific ID Requirements
Veterinary Resources
No-Cost RFID Program
The TAHC received a limited number of no-cost Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) ear tags from the USDA to distribute to Texans for use in replacement breeding cattle to advance animal disease traceability efforts.
The no-cost RFID tags are to be used in lieu of the silver metal "bright" tags and orange metal Official Calfhood Vaccination (OCV) tags.
- Only Texans may order the free RFID tags from the TAHC. Contact State animal health officials in each state to learn more about their state's traceability programs.
- These RFID tags are only intended for use in replacement breeding stock.
- Two types of tags are available to order: white "840" button tags and orange "840" calfhood vaccination (OCV) button tags. Both RFID tags are low frequency tags. Veterinarians may receive both white and orange tags, while other stakeholders may only receive white tags.
- Currently, no ultra-high frequency tags are available through this program.
- Tags are ordered in bags of 100 and will be made available for pick up at TAHC region offices.
- RFID tag inventory may include more than one brand of tag. A specific brand cannot be requested.
- RFID tag readers are not required to distribute or apply 840-AIN RFID ear tags.
Texans interested in ordering RFID tags at no-cost may submit their request to the TAHC ADT department by phone, 512-719-0733, or email, animal_id@tahc.texas.gov. In the event of high call volume, please leave a voicemail and our staff will return calls in the order they are received. TAHC staff continue to process requests and will distribute tags until the Texas tag allotment is depleted. Once the Texas tag allotment is depleted, no additional tags may be provided to the state.
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General Information
- Free Texas RFID Tag Information
Submit ADT Questions
