The goal of the new electronic identification rule is to increase animal disease traceability. The rule does not impact all cattle movement. “It’s mostly your breeding stock that are moving,” said Kaitlyn Root, executive director, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association. “As far as that USDA interstate, we’re looking at about 11 percent of the U.S. cattle herd being impacted by the rule.” Free ear tags are available. “More free tags are coming; for producers who submitted that request to the Board of Animal Health and haven’t received their tags yet, please, be patient and know that they’re coming.”
