When the USDA Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) rule was enacted in 2013, it included a provision for tagging sites. These are facilities approved by the state to receive animals without official identification and apply identification tags on-site. Before receiving unidentified animals, a facility must have their tagging site application completed and approved by the Division of Animal Industries (Division). Once their application is approved, a facility may begin receiving these animals. The tagging site requirements are laid out in detail on the application, but the basic requirements are as follows:
- Obtain official identification tags only from the Division;
- Officially identify all animals per the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR);
- Only apply identification to animals which do not already have official identification in place;
- Only remove official identification with Division approval;
- Maintain records on-site for a minimum of five (5) years;
- Submit tagging records to the Division within ten (10) days.
Currently, less than 20 facilities in Idaho are tagging sites. Most of these are either approved livestock markets or approved feedlots, but it’s important to note that not all of Idaho’s approved feedlots are tagging sites.
For any questions regarding tagging sites, please contact ISDA.
