Moving Cattle Over State Lines or to Show? Official RFID Tagging is Required

NYS Ag and Markets has announced that after November 5, 2024, cattle moved over state lines will require an 840 tag. These tags must be RFID. The "840" on the tag indicates that the cattle are of US origin and allows the USDA to trace the source of a disease outbreak, should it occur. The tags do not transmit owner data, and only show your data when read with an RFID reader. Silver tags (NUES or "brite" tags) alone will not be allowed and are being discontinued by Ag and Markets. There is no projected date for deer or swine to comply with this regulation.

Cattle that qualify for the new rule:

• -Beef cattle that are sexually intact and 18 months of age or older
• -All female dairy cattle
• -Male dairy cattle born after March 11, 2013
• -All show and exhibition cattle

The new USDA final rule does not change which cattle receive official ear tags; it only changes which ear tags that are considered official. If you do not currently need official tags in your cattle, they still do not require official tags.

Farmers who need tags can receive them through NYS Department of Ag and Markets as inventory permits. These are the white or orange button types seen below.

If you're considering ordering tags directly from a manufacturer, you will be responsible to ensure that they comply with the regulations. Visit https://vsapps.aphis.usda.gov/aims/AllProductNew.do then choose "Program Approved," and "Cattle" as the species to see a comprehensive list of manufacturers. Only RFID capable devices will be approved starting November 5, 2024.

Backtags can still be used, but only on cattle that are going direct to a USDA inspected slaughter facility. All other cattle that need official identification must be identified with an 840 RFID tag.

All cattle (including dairy, beef, heifers, and steers) that already have a NUES tag or another grandfathered form of official ID in their ear by November 5, 2024, will be considered officially tagged for life. These cattle will not require an RFID-capable 840 tag applied. You can choose to add an 840 RFID tag to them, but it is not required. Grandfathered tags (i.e. - 12-digit F.A.I.R. tags, truncated AIN tags, tags starting with 982- or 985-) applied before March 11, 2015, will also continue to be considered official ID for the animals that have them.

The full article from the USDA can be found here: https://agriculture.ny.gov/sys...