Dairy Cattle & Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)

Important News for Dairy Farmers, Cattle Haulers, Veterinarians, and Others Involved the movement of Dairy Cattle

  • The USDA has issued a Federal Order effective Monday, April 29, 2024, that impacts the movement of lactating dairy cattle. Read the full Federal Order (PDF). Read the UDSA’s Guidance Document (PDF).
  • All lactating dairy cattle moving across state lines must receive a negative test for Influenza A unless cows are being moved direct to slaughter. For more on testing requirements.
  • Lactating dairy cattle moving interstate direct to slaughter are not required to have a premovement test but must move on a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) or the Owner Hauler Statement (OSS) (PDF) or the cull cow worksheet (Excel) for use. Most states will accept the OSS or worksheet; however, producers/haulers/veterinarians and others should check with the State of Destination for nuances (e.g., Pennsylvania, a waybill will be sufficient as long as the animals go directly to a licensed meat establishment, Oklahoma requires a CVI and will not allow for the alternative documents).
  • Cows moving direct to slaughter on a CVI or other approved documentation must have RFID tags or other acceptable forms of official ID.

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CVI Requirements

As noted in the APHIS Requirements and Recommendations for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 Virus in Livestock, dairy cattle moving direct to slaughter on a CVI must have individual official identification recorded.

USDA’s final rule on Use of Electronic Identification Eartags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison was released in April, 2024. During this transition window over the next 180 days metal, non-electronic identification (EID) tags for animal identification will continue to be allowed, but soon only RFID tags as the official eartag for use in interstate movement of cattle will be allowed.

DACF Animal Health can provide producers, veterinarians, and others with RFID tags for cattle. Before we can send tags, a Premises Identification Number (PIN, also commonly called a "Prem ID") is required. A PIN is a unique code that is permanently assigned to a single physical location.

Setup PIN Request RFID Tags

USDA HPAI Cattle

Testing & Reporting in Cattle

Human Health

Farm Biosecurity Practices

Farm Biosecurity Plans

Wildlife Management to Protect Against HPAI

Do you have questions or concerns about HPAI in dairy cattle?

If your concern is about the health of an animal or the implementation of the federal order:

If your concern is about food safety:

If your concern is about access to funding or resources or anything else: