Animal disease traceability (ADT) is critical to defending the nation's animal agriculture sector from animal disease threats, maintaining a secure food supply, and demonstrating value to economic…

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the State of Washington Department of Agriculture a cooperative agreement totaling $158,738 on April 1, 2026, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025) to strengthen the state's animal disease traceability (ADT) program.

WSDA will administer an official animal identification program, operate electronic record platforms, and provide support and resources to producers and accredited veterinarians for ADT-related requirements. The agency will distribute 100,000–150,000 electronic official identification (EID) tags to accredited veterinarians, producers, and livestock markets, along with 1,200–3,000 non-electronic official identification devices for appropriate species and 55–75 tag applicators. WSDA will maintain the state's internal and external electronic ADT platforms and portals, through which approximately 1,000–1,500 stakeholders are expected to electronically submit 20,000–25,000 records including interstate certificates of veterinary inspection, brucellosis vaccination records, and tuberculosis test charts. The agency will conduct compliance and enforcement activities consistent with ADT regulations and standards, and will use national priority trace exercises to test the efficiency of its ADT system and identify areas needing improvement.

The award period runs from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027, with place of performance in Washington, USA. The program's purpose is to ensure that the state ADT program meets federal ADT standards and deliverables, supporting timely and efficient identification of animals infected or exposed to reportable animal diseases, including zoonotic diseases, foreign animal diseases, and diseases of economic concern.

Animal disease traceability (ADT) is critical to defending the nation's animal agriculture sector from animal disease threats, maintaining a secure food supply, and demonstrating value to economic trading partners. Effective state ADT programs are necessary for the timely and efficient identification of animals infected or exposed to reportable animal diseases, including zoonotic diseases, foreign animal diseases, and diseases of economic concern. The purpose of the 2026 cooperative agreement between the washington state department of agriculture (wsda) and the united states department of agriculture (USDA) is to ensure that the state ADT program meets federal ADT standards and deliverables. As part of this cooperative agreement, wsda will administer an official animal identification program, operate electronic record platforms, and provide support and resources to producers and accredited veterinarians for ADT-related requirements. Wsda will also use national priority trace exercises to test the efficiency of its ADT system and identify areas needing improvement. In addition, wsda will conduct compliance and enforcement activities consistent with ADT regulations and standards. During the 2026 cooperative agreement cycle, wsda intends to: promote the use of official identification in livestock by distributing 100 ,000-150,000 electronic official identification (EID) tags to accredited veterinarians, producers, and livestock markets. An additional 1,200-3,000 non-electronic official identification devices will be provided for appropriate species. Wsda will also distribute 55-75 tag applicators; maintain the state's internal and external electronic ADT platforms and portals. Approximately 1,000-1,500 stakeholders are expected to electronically submit 20,000-25,000 records including interstate certificates of veterinary inspection (icvis), brucellosis vaccination records, and tuberculosis test charts using wsda's ovis portal; convert approximately 1,200-1,800 paper traceability documents (official ID records, cvis, and test/vaccination records) to electronic format to ensure efficient retrieval during disease trace events; continue the use of saletime in six livestock markets to ensure efficient electronic tag and CVI documentation; ensure electronic tag readers at the six largest slaughter facilities in washington remain operational; continue deployment of approximately 150 stick EID readers for use by accredited veterinarians, livestock markets, and other stakeholders; trace reportable animal disease suspects to identify possible exposed herds and determine disease origin; provide in-person training for livestock market staff and veterinary personnel through semi-annual visits to six livestock markets on installed electronic traceability systems and EID capture devices; provide training and support for accredited veterinarians and producers using EID stick readers and electronic systems. Wsda expects to respond to 150-200 requests for assistance; participate in and present at four p roducer-group annual meetings to promote increased use of official identification and electronic traceability platforms; collaborate with other states through the usaha animal health surveillance and information systems committee to address ADT challenges and develop innovative solutions. Wsda will send one representative to the national usaha meeting; conduct 2-4 ADT compliance audits per QUA rter at markets, exhibitions, and harvest facilities; participate in USDA national priority trace exercises and address identified areas of concern; investigate instances of possible ADT violations (estimate 15-35 per quarter). During the award period, wsda expects to: distribute 100,000-150,000 electronic ID tags; 1,000-1,200 non-electronic ID devices; and 55-75 tag applicators; receive electronic submission of 20,000-25,000 records by 1,000-1,500 stakeholders; convert 1,200-1,800 traceability documents from paper to electronic format; maintain electronic traceability systems and EID technology at six livestock markets; collect and manage electronic ID data from approximately 600,000 cattle at the six largest slaughter facilities in washington; trace reportable animal disease suspects in the course of disease investigations; respond to 150-200 training/support requests related to EID readers and electronic platforms from accredited veterinarians, producers, and other stakeholders; encourage producer engagement on ADT issues through four producer-group meetings. Address national and regional ADT challenges though participation in the usaha animal health surveillance and information systems committee; perform ADT audits and trace exercises to test program functionality; conduct ADT compliance activities (15-35 per quarter); document deliverables and track metrics including electronic cvis, accredited veterinarian usage, paper-to-electronic form shifts, and interstate CVI submissions in quarterly reports. Expected outcomes of this cooperative agreement include: continued use of official identification and increased adoption of electronic identification, particularly for cattle and swine. Use of electronic traceability platforms should meet or exceed 2025 levels; increased producer, veterinarian, and industry understanding of ADT regulations, resources, and benefits of EID and electronic record management including time efficiencies and error reduction; demonstrated capability to conduct timely and efficient interstate animal disease traces; increased stakeholder compliance with ADT regulation. This award directly benefits producers, accredited veterinarians, livestock markets, and other livestock industry stakeholders in washington state, as well as stakeholders involved in interstate and international livestock movement into or out of the state. USDA, wsda, and other animal health agencies also benefit through improved efficiency and speed of animal disease trace activities. In addition, the general public benefits due to ADT's role in protecting food and fiber supply and commerce. Examples of beneficiaries include: more than 1,200 category II accredited veterinarians registered in the free ovis electronic platform; approximately 9,000-10,000 cattle farms, ranches, and producers across all 39 counties; an estimated 360 swine producers and exhibitions; approximately 8.15 million washington consumers. No subrecipients.