Several livestock advocacy groups, including the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, and the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA), have filed a legal challenge against a new rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding electronic identification for livestock. The case is currently being reviewed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota.
The USDA’s rule, titled “Use of Electronic Identification Eartags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison,” mandates that cattle and bison moving across state lines must wear an electronic identification (EID) ear tag. This measure, according to the USDA, is intended to improve traceability for disease prevention and control across livestock populations.
However, the challenging groups argue that the USDA has not provided sufficient evidence linking EID use directly to improved disease prevention in cattle and bison. They claim the rule lacks clarity on how it would reduce disease spread in livestock effectively. Moreover, the groups are voicing concerns over the USDA’s approach to economic analysis, stating that the rule’s economic impact on small and independent livestock producers was not thoroughly examined during the drafting phase.
In addition to the legal filing, the American Livestock Markets and Dealers Association has sent a letter to the USDA requesting a 180-day delay in implementing the rule to allow more time for review and adjustment. This request underscores industry-wide apprehensions about the new rule’s potential impact on livestock markets.
For further information on animal identification and tracking, the National Agricultural Law Center (NALC) provides an Animal Identification & Tracing reading room for those interested in exploring the topic further.
To view the full complaint filed by the livestock groups, click here.
