Rule Revised: USDA, WLSB update guidance on brucellosis vaccination tags
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has updated federal guidance regarding the use of orange metal National Uniform Eartagging System (NUES) tags for brucellosis calfhood vaccination, prompting the Wyoming Livestock Board (WLSB) to revise portions of its state rules as well.
These changes were discussed during two meetings held by WLSB in May, where Wyoming State Veterinarian Dr. Hallie Hasel explained the updated guidance and outlined its impact on producers and veterinarians across the state.
Metal bangs tag updates
According to Hasel, USDA will once again allow veterinarians to use existing orange metal NUES tags for official calfhood vaccination (OCV) in cattle, bison and yak heifers between four and 12 months of age if the tags are already in stock, but tags can no longer be ordered or manufactured.
“This all came about as a result of an R-CALF USA lawsuit happening right now,” Hasel explained. “USDA added the ability for veterinarians to go ahead and start using the orange metal tag as a brucellosis vaccination tag if they have it in stock.”
Under the updated rule, orange metal NUES tags will be placed under the same restrictions as Wyoming’s yellow metal OCV tag, and orange tags applied after Nov. 5, 2024 may only be used for brucellosis OCV, not for adult brucellosis vaccinations, retagging animals that lost their metal tag, regulatory brucellosis or tuberculosis testing or as official ID for interstate movement.
Hasel stressed the change does not restore orange tags to their former status as official identification.
“If the orange metal tag is or was applied after Nov. 4, 2024, it is no longer considered official ID,” she explained. “It’s for brucellosis vaccinations only, just like our yellow tag.”
Hasel also reiterated veterinarians may continue using remaining inventories of orange metal tags they already possess, but no additional tags are available.
“All the USDA is saying is if veterinarians have them in stock, they can use them up but they cannot order anymore,” she said. “They are no longer available. Period.”
She further noted, beginning on June 1, Wyoming veterinarians will be able to purchase yellow OCV tags.
Like the orange tags, yellow tags may only be applied at the time of OCV and are not considered official identification for interstate movement or regulatory testing.
Electronic ID tags of any color can also be used in cattle, bison and yak for brucellosis OCV vaccinations, adult brucellosis vaccinations, re-tagging animals that lost their metal tag, regulatory testing of brucellosis or tuberculosis and official ID for interstate movement.
Unlike the metal vaccination tags, 840 EID tags may also be purchased and applied by either producers or veterinarians through a variety of vendors.
Other changes
Because of USDA’s changes, WLSB officials introduced several revisions to Chapter 2 state rules governing brucellosis vaccination and identification requirements during a board meeting on May 22.
Hasel and Senior Assistant Attorney General J.D. Sater reviewed the changes, including updates to the definition of a Wyoming OCV tag, noting the revised language adds orange USDA metal tags to the definition alongside Wyoming’s yellow metal tag.
Under the proposed rule, a Wyoming OCV tag would include “a yellow metal OCV tag with a Wyoming shield or an orange tamper-resistant metal nine-digit USDA identification tag” placed on or after Nov. 5, 2024.
The revised definition also clarifies these tags “satisfy Wyoming identification requirements for OCV but do not satisfy federal requirements for movement across state lines or as official individual identification.”
Additionally, board members approved several minor wording and formatting changes within the rules package.
Sater explained the board had previously prepared rules for public comment, but the process was paused after USDA announced its update regarding the orange tags.
“What needs to happen today is, if the board is good with these changes, to again vote to approve to put them out for public comment,” Sater said.
Board Member Hugh Hageman moved to approve the revisions and Board Member Lindsay Wood seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
