The Complete Guide to Interstate Cattle Movement (2026)

What Is Interstate Cattle Movement?

Interstate cattle movement is the physical transport of live cattle from one U.S. state to another. This includes any movement that crosses a state line, whether you are selling cattle at an out-of-state auction, moving heifers to a contract heifer raiser in another state, sending animals to grazing pastures across the border, or delivering cattle to a buyer in a different state.

From a regulatory standpoint, the moment cattle leave one state and enter another, a different set of rules applies. The federal government establishes a baseline of requirements under the Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) framework, but each individual state sets its own import conditions on top of that federal floor.

This means that the requirements for moving cattle from Wisconsin to Texas are different from moving cattle from Wisconsin to California. The origin state matters. The destination state matters. The purpose of the movement matters. The age, sex, and reproductive status of the animals may matter. And in some cases, even the breed matters.

Federal Requirements

The federal framework for interstate cattle movement is codified in 9 CFR Part 86, commonly referred to as the Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) rule. The purpose of ADT is simple: if a disease outbreak occurs, officials need to be able to quickly trace where affected animals have been and which other animals they have contacted.

The ADT Rule

Under the ADT rule, cattle moving interstate must have official identification and be accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection (ICVI), commonly called a CVI. The rule is administered by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services division.

The 840 RFID Mandate

Beginning in 2024, USDA APHIS strengthened the identification requirement specifically for dairy cattle. All sexually intact dairy cattle moving interstate must now carry an official 840 RFID ear tag. The “840” refers to the ISO country code for the United States, and these tags contain a unique 15-digit number that serves as the animal's official federal identification.

This requirement was accelerated by the 2024 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak in dairy herds, which exposed critical gaps in the ability to trace cattle movements. Prior to this mandate, many dairy cattle were identified with visual-only ear tags (metal clips, brite tags) that were difficult to read consistently and prone to loss.

What Counts as Official Identification

Under 9 CFR Part 86, the following are recognized as official identification for cattle:

• 840 RFID ear tags — Required for all sexually intact dairy cattle. These are low-frequency (LF) half-duplex or full-duplex tags conforming to ISO 11784/11785.
• Official USDA metal ear tags — Acceptable for beef cattle and dairy steers, but not for intact dairy cattle moving interstate.
• Brands — Recognized as official ID in some states with state brand inspection programs (e.g., Montana, Wyoming, Colorado), but only for cattle originating in those states.
• Breed registration tattoos — Accepted when accompanied by breed registration papers from an approved registry.

Source: USDA APHIS, Animal Disease Traceability for Cattle ; 9 CFR Part 86.

The Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI)

A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, or CVI, is the official health document that must accompany cattle during interstate transport. Think of it as a “health passport” for the animals. The CVI certifies that a USDA-accredited veterinarian has physically examined the animals and that they meet the health requirements of both the origin and destination states.

Who Issues a CVI?

Only a USDA-accredited veterinarian can issue a CVI. Accreditation is a federal credential granted by APHIS after the veterinarian completes specific training modules. A licensed veterinarian who is not USDA-accredited cannot legally sign an interstate CVI. To find an accredited vet in your area, contact your state veterinarian's office or the APHIS area office.

How Long Is a CVI Valid?

CVI validity depends on the destination state, not the origin state. Most states allow 30 days from the date of veterinary examination. Some states permit 60 days, while a few are more restrictive at 14 or 21 days. The key date is the date of physical inspection by the veterinarian, not the date the certificate was printed or signed.

What Information Is on a CVI?

A complete CVI includes:

• Consignor (shipper) name, address, and phone number
• Consignee (receiver) name, address, and phone number
• Origin and destination premises
• Date of physical inspection
• Individual animal identification (official ID numbers)
• Species, breed, sex, and age of each animal
• Purpose of movement (sale, breeding, exhibition, grazing, slaughter)
• Disease test results (if testing is required by the destination state)
• Veterinarian's signature, license number, and USDA accreditation number
• Health remarks or additional observations

Import and Entry Permits

In addition to the CVI, some states require a separate import permit (also called an entry permit or movement permit) before cattle can legally cross their border. This permit is a separate document from the CVI and must be obtained before the animals are shipped — not at the border or after arrival.

How Import Permits Work

Import permits are typically obtained by contacting the destination state veterinarian's office directly, often by phone or through an online portal. The state issues a permit number, which in many cases must appear on the CVI itself. Without the permit number on the CVI, the certificate may be rejected at the destination.

Which States Require Permits?

Many states require import permits for cattle, including Texas, Florida, California, New York, and numerous others. The specific requirements — whether a permit is needed, who applies for it, how long it is valid, and whether the permit number must be referenced on the CVI — vary by state and can change. Some states require permits only for certain classes of cattle or certain purposes (e.g., breeding stock but not slaughter cattle).

State-by-State Requirements Overview

Beyond the federal baseline, each state imposes its own import requirements. These vary significantly and can change without much notice. The three most common categories of state-level disease testing requirements are:

Tuberculosis (TB) Testing

Many states require a negative TB test before cattle can enter. The test is typically the caudal fold tuberculin (CFT) test, administered by an accredited vet, with results valid for 60 days in most states. Some states exempt cattle from TB-accredited-free states. States with active TB investigations (such as certain Michigan counties) may impose additional requirements on outgoing cattle as well.

Brucellosis Testing

Brucellosis testing requirements are common but come with significant exemptions. Most states exempt steers, spayed heifers, calves under 18 months of age, and cattle going directly to slaughter. The standard test is a blood draw analyzed at a USDA-approved lab, with results typically valid for 30 days.

Trichomoniasis Testing

Trichomoniasis (trich) testing applies only to bulls, and specifically to bulls above a certain age threshold (typically 12 or 18 months, depending on the state). This is a reproductive disease, so it only affects breeding stock. Not all states require trich testing, but many western and southern states do.

Step-by-Step: How to Prepare for an Interstate Movement

Common Mistakes That Delay Shipments

Producers commonly report that these are the errors that cause the most delays:

• 1.

  Checking origin state rules instead of destination state rules. The destination state sets the import requirements. Your home state's rules govern what you export; the receiving state's rules determine what they will accept.

• 2.

  Expired test results. Disease test results have strict validity windows. A TB test done 65 days before movement may be invalid in a state that requires results within 60 days. Time your testing carefully.

• 3.

  Missing or unreadable RFID tags. If an 840 RFID tag has been lost or is not scanning, the animal cannot legally move interstate. Always scan tags before the vet arrives to identify any issues.

• 4.

  Incomplete consignee information. Many producers know who they are selling to but do not have the buyer's full legal name, physical address, and phone number. Your vet needs this for the CVI.

• 5.

  Not allowing enough lead time. Disease testing, lab results, and scheduling a vet visit all take time. Starting the process 2-3 weeks before the intended movement date is wise.

• 6.

  Assuming the rules are the same as last year. States update their import requirements periodically, and USDA has been actively strengthening traceability rules. Always verify current requirements before each movement.

How Technology Is Changing Compliance

Interstate cattle movement compliance has historically been a paper-heavy, phone-call-intensive process. A producer would call their state vet's office, look up the rules in a PDF, handwrite animal lists, and hope that nothing changed since the last time they moved cattle.

Technology is changing this in several ways:

• Electronic CVIs (eCVIs) are replacing paper certificates. They integrate directly with state animal health systems, reducing processing times and improving traceability.
• RFID tag readers allow producers to quickly scan and inventory their herd's identification, catching missing or unreadable tags before the vet arrives.
• Digital state requirement databases make it possible to look up requirements for any state pair in seconds, rather than navigating PDFs and making phone calls.
• Pre-movement compliance tools can cross-reference your animals' identification, testing status, and the destination state's requirements before the vet visit, identifying issues early.

At Therio, we are building tools that bring these pieces together for dairy producers. Our State Requirements Lookup covers all 50 states, and our Movement Prep Tool helps you prepare CVI documents directly from your DairyComp 305 herd file. Both are free and require no account.

Frequently Asked Questions

References

• 9 CFR Part 86 — Animal Disease Traceability
• USDA APHIS — Animal Disease Traceability for Cattle
• USDA APHIS — Cattle Health
• United States Animal Health Association (USAHA)
• USAHA State Animal Health Officials Directory — contact information for state veterinarians and state animal health official offices in all 50 states

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