Award description the purpose of the animal disease traceability (ADT) cooperative agreement is to support a partnership between tennessee department of agriculture (TDA), USDA aphis, and the cattle…

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) awarded a cooperative agreement totaling $145,185 to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Industries on April 1, 2026, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025). The award funds animal disease traceability work through March 31, 2027, performed in Tennessee.

The recipient administers official identification devices for livestock traceability, focusing on cattle. Activities include distributing USDA 840 RFID tags to livestock producers at no cost, providing premises identification numbers, coordinating electronic identification data submission from livestock markets, expanding RFID reader availability through a lease program, and enhancing electronic reader deployment via the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program. The work supports disease monitoring and response for current concerns including tuberculosis and preparedness against foot-and-mouth disease in partnership with USDA APHIS and Tennessee's cattle industry.

Award description the purpose of the animal disease traceability (ADT) cooperative agreement is to support a partnership between tennessee department of agriculture (TDA), USDA aphis, and the cattle industry in tennessee to promote and sustain traceability for current animal health concerns such as tuberculosis, and to bolster preparedness against such challenges as foot and mouth disease (FMD), which could be devastating to the state and national economy. Alone, the state can provide the backbone of a defense and traceability, but maintaining national consistency requires involvement, support and the local contribution of veterinary services (VS). This involvement includes funding to meet objectives as described in subsequent paragraphs and personnel to complete these objectives. Activities to be performed: there are six objective categories in this cooperative agreement. Objective 1: administration of official identification devices: the tennessee department of agriculture (TDA) supports livestock producers in officially identifying livestock on their premises by providing official USDA 840 rfid tags for cattle. Producers must have a premises identification number or TDA staff will assist them in obtaining one. Official ID tags are issued through the tennessee animal health office and mailed directly to producers at no cost for on-premises use. In addition to producer tagging, the tennessee state legislature provides annual funding to support livestock markets in identifying market cattle. Markets electronically submit identification data to TDA, promoting official animal identification and linking animals to their premises ID. To increase rfid use, one livestock market continues to use the animal health UHF system to scan 840 rfid tags. TDA also offers a lease program for AWR 300 and APR 600 rfid readers to veterinarians and livestock markets. Additional expansion of electronic reader use is supported through the tennessee agricultural enhancement program (taep), which provides cost-share funding to livestock producers. Tennessee animal health staff maintain electronic records of official USDA identification devices distributed to livestock producers, accredited veterinarians, livestock markets, and tagging sites within the TN core one database. The trace first core one system improves efficiency by allowing staff to quickly locate 840 rfid tags distributed across the state. Official identification distribution records are also entered into the USDA animal identification number management system (aims). TDA uses a web-based data system developed by trace first that allows participating livestock markets and veterinary offices to enter official cattle identification data directly into the TDA database. All 840 tag information is stored in core one and is readily available to USDA when needed. Objective 2: electronic records the tennessee department of agriculture collects and manages animal disease traceability data through both hand-written certificates of veterinary inspection (CVI's) and electronic certificates of veterinary inspection (ecvis). Ecvis are stored in CVI central, SCS core one, vsps, and globalvetlink. Information from hand-written cvis, including cattle official identification, is entered into CVI central and is readily accessible. Traceability administrative staff enter official identification from test charts into SCS core one. Tennessee's animal disease traceability system is SCS core one, which is interoperable with USDA core one to support data sharing. Official individual identification originates from cattle premises or licensed livestock markets with premises identification numbers as location identifiers. Traceability data are maintained in SCS core one and the USDA animal identification number management system (ainms). Information is typically available to other jurisdictions during normal business hours, with 24/7 access provided during emergencies. Traceability data can also be automatically transmitted to ahers through tracefirst tennessee core one. TDA ADT staff review and monitor all exports and imports of both hand-written and electronic certificates of veterinary inspection ( ecvis) in the CVI central system to ensure proper completion. This process makes movement information, including official identification, readily accessible. Tennessee ADT staff track the use of paper and electronic cvis and continue to evaluate and promote additi onal ecvi options to expand electronic reporting and provide accredited veterinarians with the most effective tools available. Objective 3: information sharing tennessee animal health advances animal disease traceability by increasing the collection of electronic traceability data through AP his/VS cooperative program activities, electronic interstate certificates of veterinary inspection, official test charts, and the tennessee cattle traceability program. The department uses trace first CVI central to increase the volume of searchable CVI data entered into core one. TDA uses a web-based data system, the state VET portal, that allows official identification data of rfid tags applied to be entered directly into the department's database by participating livestock markets and accredited veterinarians. This information is then transferred into the core one database. Core one is integrated with aher and USDA systems, allowing traceability data to be shared with aphis and other states when needed. Within the TDA database, premises identification is linked to the animal's official identification, supporting efficient documentation and timely animal disease investigations. Objective 4: outreach and communication office and field staff conduct ongoing outreach through regular interaction with food animal veterinarians, livestock producers, market operators, and extension personnel. Outreach activities include presentations at livestock association meetings, direct producer engagement, and distribution of printed educational materials. Field staff support the university of tennessee extension's statewide master beef producer classes, which are delivered as web-based courses, and continue weekly visits to livestock markets. Animal disease traceability (ADT) education is also provided at county fairs and 4-h events throughout the fiscal year. All ADT outreach activities conducted by office and field staff during the past fiscal year are documented in the quarterly appendix b ADT outreach reports. Objective 5: national priority tracing exercises each TPM involving tracing official identification is prioritized and conducted as an actual disease trace. Standard procedures are followed to evaluate the effectiveness of tennessee's trace-back processes. National priority traces are completed using official test charts, certificates of veterinary inspection, livestock market records, and official tag distribution records. Data stored in aims, TN core one, and vsps are used extensively to complete traces. To date, all official identification tags included in previous national priority traces have been successfully traced with a 100% success rate, and results are documented in emrs. Objective 6: compliance and enforcement of traceability regulations to support animal disease traceability and compliance, TDA office staff review and monitor all certificates of veterinary inspection (cvis), both paper and electronic, through CVI central to ensure proper completion. Common compliance issues are identified through this review process. Accredited veterinarians are notified in writing of any non-compliance issues, which are documented electronically in the CVI central database by veterinarian. Veterinarians with repeated non-compliance issues are contacted or visited by TDA or USDA veterinary staff for follow-up and education. Livestock markets are also visited regularly to monitor ADT compliance. Compliance concerns and related outreach and education efforts are shared with the avic and the USDA ADT coordinator, and issues warranting further action are referred for follow-up as appropriate. The ADT coordinator and TDA staff monitor electronic tags distributed through the animal health office. Accredited veterinarians are required to submit redistribution sheets documenting all tags applied on livestock producers' premises. Redistribution sheets are included with all new tag orders, and spot checks are conducted to ensure records are completed accurately. Livestock markets participating in the tennessee market cattle traceability program are compensated monthly to submit electronic reports to the animal health division on 840 tags used during weekly and special sales. TDA staff also run shipment reports in aims. Any accredited veterinarian or tag manager not receiving official 840 tags from the animal health office is contacted by letter and/or personal visit regarding the recordkeeping requirements under 9 CFR part 86.3(a), including the requirement to maintain records for tags obtained directly from manufacturers. TDA staff continue to investigate all reported incidents of misuse of official identification. The deliverables and expected outcomes of this cooperative relationship would include data to demonstrate livestock movement in national and international commerce. IT is expected to see demonstrated growth in the implementation of electronic tracing technology and placement of rfid tags in replacement animals. The activities outlined in outreach and communication are clearly outlined and should be promptly and accurately reported in the quarterly performance tracker. Regular trace exercises will be initiated by aphis VS and will measure proficiency and growth in decreasing trace response time. The importance of supply chain traceability is understood and embraced by virtually every production system in the world. Whatever is produced, sourced or shipped to, from, or within the united states should be accompanied by transparency, and accountability. The impact of this cooperative program is wide and includes traceability metrics that affect all livestock species. The cattle industry is the most visible commodity group of tennessee livestock and includes a herd inventory of 1.5 million head. These are mostly beef cattle. In summary, tennessee's livestock commodities, whether swine, small ruminant, cattle, dairy, or even alternative livestock production units stand near the center of the national economy both in geography and in commerce. Animal disease traceability is an essential and cost-effective investment for protection of these industries.