Our Work
The Department’s Division of Animal Industry is responsible for monitoring animal and public health through animal disease traceability. Tracking where diseased and at-risk animals are, where they have been, and when they were there is important to ensuring a rapid response when animal disease events take place.
Ensuring your livestock identification and movements are compliant with New York and Federal guidelines for traceability and official identification is critical to protecting against disease outbreak and maintaining the health and safety of New York's animal and public health.
Visit the Department’s species identification pages for specific information about official identification requirements, moving paperwork, and both State and Federal traceability rules and regulations.
Information by Species
See the Guidelines Official Identification
Official identification refers to the type of tag, tattoo, brand, ear notch, microchip or description officially recognized by the USDA and the state government. It can be used to trace an animal to the farm of origin, and it is only official if applied to the correct species. Upholding federal and state official identification standards is part of maintaining a comprehensive animal disease traceability system to protect against disease outbreak.
Official identification is long-lasting and specific to the individual animal or group of animals. Visit the page below for more information regarding official identification guidelines.
Get Your Documents Movement Paperwork for Livestock
The federal government makes rules about certifications and tests that apply to movements across state lines. Additionally, each state makes their own rules and regulations about interstate and intrastate movements. Visit the page below to learn more about what paperwork you need to move your animal.