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Bison and Cattle

Bison and Cattle

General Information

The references to "bison and cattle" in the language below include all bovine (genus Bos) animals, bovine-like animals (genus Bison-also commonly referred to as American buffalo or bison), and any cross of these animals.

Coming into Michigan from Another State (Import)

Note: if you are planning to exhibit an animal of this type, there may be additional rules. View exhibition rules here. 

  1. Bison and cattle must have an official interstate certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) filled out by a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) accredited veterinarian.
    1. Please note that Michigan does not issue entry permits for bison and cattle to be imported. Therefore, when completing the interstate certificate of veterinary inspection, a permit number does not need to be included. 
    2. When bison or cattle are imported from a herd under an official Herd Health Maintenance Plan, the following statement must appear on the interstate CVI:

      "This herd is inspected as part of a regular health maintenance program and all animals listed on this CVI have been examined within the last 30 days."

    3. When bison and cattle without official identification are moved directly to an approved tagging site, the national premises identification number (PIN) of the herd's origin and the following statement must appear on the interstate CVI:

      "This herd will be officially identified at the approved tagging site."

      Exceptions:

      1. Bison and cattle (excluding lactating dairy cattle) going directly to slaughter, or through a federally approved livestock auction market and then to slaughter, may be accompanied by an owner shipper statement (OSS) instead of an interstate CVI.
      2. Lactating dairy cattle going directly to a slaughter plant may be accompanied by an Owner Hauler Statement for Lactating Dairy Cow Transport to Slaughter instead of an interstate CVI.
        • The official backtag number or official identification eartag number of the cattle going directly to slaughter must be included on the statement.
        • A copy of this document with any attachments must be submitted to cvi@michigan.gov or MDARD AID, PO Box 30017, Lansing, MI 48909. A copy must also be submitted to the animal health official in the origin state.

        3. Lactating dairy cattle imported to a Michigan saleyard or any other destination before going to a slaughter plant must be accompanied by an official CVI and have a negative avian influenza test as specified below, and the animals cannot be imported on an Owner Hauler Statement for Lactating Dairy Cow Transport to Slaughter.

  2. Unless moving directly to an approved tagging site, bison and cattle must have an official identification (ID) ear tag regardless of age, breed, or sex. Official ID ear tag numbers must be recorded on the interstate CVI.

    3. Official Identification Options:

    1. Metal NUES ear tag depicting the U.S. Route Shield.*
    2. Animal Identification Number (AIN) ear tag:  may be a visual tag or a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag.*
      1. AIN ear tags applied to animals of U.S. origin must depict the U.S. Route Shield.
      2. AIN ear tags applied to animals of U.S. origin on or after March 11, 2015, must have a 15-digit number that begins with 840.

    *All bison and cattle moved directly to a Michigan livestock auction market must have official RFID ear tags to be consigned for sale. Animals can have official RFID applied upon arrival, at the owner's expense, if:

    1. the Michigan livestock auction market is an approved tagging site, and
    2. the person responsible for the animals provides the approved tagging site with the national premises identification number (PIN) of the animals' origin.

    Exception:  Bison and cattle moving directly to slaughter may enter Michigan with USDA approved back tags in place of official ID.

    1. All lactating dairy cattle imported into Michigan, unless imported directly to a slaughter plant under the criteria outlined above, are also required to receive a negative avian influenza virus test via milk PCR at an approved National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) laboratory using an NAHLN approved assay.
      • The samples must be collected no more than seven (7) days prior to movement.
      • Samples are to be collected by an accredited veterinarian (or a state licensed veterinarian) or a sample collector approved by the animal health official in the state of origin.
      • Samples to be collected include milk/udder secretions from individual cows. Each quarter is sampled and combined into one sample for submission to the laboratory. Submissions must be between 3-10 ml of milk per animal. Pooled samples from multiple animals cannot be used.
      • For groups/lots of 30 or fewer animals moving interstate, all animals being moved must be tested. If more than 30 animals are moving into Michigan, then only 30 animals in total must be tested.
    2. The following statement must be written on the interstate CVI for all female cattle 20 months of age and older that are being shipped, other than directly to a slaughter plant, and do not require the testing stated in (3) above: “The cattle listed on this CVI are not lactating dairy cattle.” 

      Non-lactating dairy cattle – including heifers, dry cows, and bull calves – are not currently subject to testing for interstate movement due to their risk profile.

      See USDA APHIS Requirements and Recommendations for further detail.

    3. There are no bovine tuberculosis (TB) testing requirements for bison or cattle being imported into Michigan from states or areas that are officially designated as tuberculosis accredited free. If you are interested in bringing bison or cattle into Michigan from states or areas that do not have tuberculosis accredited free status, please contact MDARD at 800-292-3939 prior to entry.
    4. There are no Trich testing requirements for bison and cattle being imported into Michigan.
    5. Brucellosis (also known as Bang’s disease): There are no brucellosis testing requirements or brucellosis vaccination requirements for bison and cattle being imported into Michigan from states or areas officially designated as brucellosis class free by USDA. Bison and cattle originating from a Brucellosis Designated Surveillance Area (DSA) must comply with all requirements of the origin state to leave the DSA (linked below):

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Exhibition (Show, demonstration, or display) Requirements

  1. Bison and cattle moving within the state of Michigan for exhibition:

    NOTE: Lactating dairy cattle, and those in the last two months of pregnancy, are prohibited from exhibition in Michigan until the HPAI Risk Reduction and Response Order, Amended June 26, 2024, is lifted or further amended.

    Also, no cattle from dairy farms affected by HPAI are allowed to be exhibited in Michigan until further notice.

    • Must have official Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) ear tags.
      1. Official RFID ear tags applied to animals of U.S. origin must depict the U.S. Route Shield.
      2. Official RFID ear tags applied to animals of U.S. origin on or after March 11, 2015, must have a 15-digit number that begins with 840.
    • All non-lactating cattle, and those not in the last two months of pregnancy, originating from a licensed dairy premises are required to have a negative HPAI A (H5N1) test in the last seven (7) days.
      1. This requirement affects only those cattle moving directly from a licensed dairy, or its connected and affiliated premises, to a fair, exhibition, or exposition.
      2. The negative test results must be presented to the fair, exhibition, or exposition officials prior to the cattle being unloaded.
      3. Test must be performed at a National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) laboratory.
      4. A federal premises identification number (PIN) must be included on the laboratory submission form.
      5. Test options:
        1. Nasal swab of all cattle to be exhibited or
        2. Bulk tank sample of the dairy farm.
    • Must comply with bovine tuberculosis program requirements outlined below in Intrastate Requirements.
  2. Bison and cattle being imported from out-of-state for exhibition:

    NOTE: Lactating dairy cattle, and those in the last two months of pregnancy, are prohibited from exhibition in Michigan until the HPAI Risk Reduction and Response Order, Amended June 26, 2024, is lifted or further amended.

    Also, no cattle from dairy farms affected by HPAI are allowed to be exhibited in Michigan until further notice.

    • A completed interstate certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) meeting the requirements stated above in Import Requirements.
    • The following statement must be written on the interstate CVI for all female cattle 20 months of age and older that are being shipped: "The cattle listed on this CVI are not lactating dairy cattle."
    • All non-lactating cattle, and those not in the last two months of pregnancy, originating from a licensed dairy premises are required to have a negative HPAI A (H5N1) test in the last seven (7) days.
      1. This requirement affects only those cattle moving directly from a licensed dairy, or its connected and affiliated premises, to a fair, exhibition, or exposition.
      2. The negative test results must be presented to the fair, exhibition, or exposition officials prior to the cattle being unloaded.
      3. Test must be performed at a National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) laboratory.
      4. The negative test results must be written on the CVI along with the date the sample was collected and when the test was performed.
      5. A federal premises identification number (PIN) must be included on the laboratory submission form.
      6. Test options:
        1. Nasal swab of all cattle to be exhibited or
        2. Bulk tank sample of the dairy farm.
    • Official identification (see Official ID Options above in Import Requirements).
  3. Contact the fair, show, or exhibition authorities for any additional requirements. Due to HPAI in dairy cattle, some events have canceled their dairy exhibitions.

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Moving within Michigan (Intrastate)

Note: if you are planning to exhibit an animal of this type, there may be additional rules. View exhibition rules here.

  1. Bison and cattle regardless of age, breed, or sex must be tagged with official Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) ear tags before they leave a Michigan premises unless they are moved to an approved tagging site.*
    1. Official RFID ear tags applied to animals of U.S. origin must depict the U.S. Route Shield.
    2. Official RFID ear tags applied to animals of U.S. origin on or after March 11, 2015, must have a 15-digit number that begins with 840.

*All bison and cattle moved directly to a Michigan livestock auction market must have official RFID ear tags to be consigned for sale. Animals can have official RFID applied upon arrival, at the owner's expense, if:

  1. the Michigan livestock auction market is an approved tagging site, and
  2. the person responsible for the animals provides the approved tagging site with the national premises identification number (PIN) of the animals' origin.

In Presque Isle County, as well as in the bovine tuberculosis (TB) Modified Accredited Zone (MAZ), which consists of Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, and Oscoda counties, there are additional requirements for identification and movement of bison or cattle.

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Leaving Michigan to go to Another State (Export)

  1. Bison and cattle regardless of age, sex, or breed must be tagged with official Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) ear tags before they leave a Michigan premises*.
    • Official RFID ear tags applied to animals of U.S. origin must depict the U.S. Route Shield.
    • Official RFID ear tags applied to animals of U.S. origin on or after March 11, 2015, must have a 15-digit number that begins with 840.
  2. Lactating dairy cattle going directly to slaughter may be accompanied by an official interstate certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) or may be moved on an Owner Hauler Statement for Lactating Dairy Cow Transport to Slaughter instead of an interstate CVI if also approved by the destination state animal health official. A copy of this document with any attachments must be submitted to cvi@michigan.gov or MDARD AID, PO Box 30017, Lansing, MI 48909. A copy must also be submitted to the animal health official in the destination state.  
     
    Please contact the state of destination for additional requirements. 

*In Presque Isle County, as well as in the bovine tuberculosis (TB) Modified Accredited Zone (MAZ), which consists of Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, and Oscoda counties, there are additional requirements for identification and movement of bison or cattle.

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International Movement

Multiple government agencies regulate international animal movement. It is important for you to verify animal movement requirements with all responsible government agencies.

Import

Export

 

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