We are pleased to advise Vermont’s dairy industry partners that an alternate agreement has been reached re. the Federal Order interstate movement document requirements for lactating dairy cattle going to slaughter. This update is applicable in certain circumstances for Vermont-origin lactating dairy cattle traveling directly to slaughter facilities in states other than Texas and Oklahoma. Animals traveling to Texas and Oklahoma for slaughter must still meet the requirements outlined in the Federal Order and associated Guidance.
For all other lactating dairy cattle originating in Vermont and traveling interstate for slaughter, the Owner Shipper Statement (OSS) (PDF) may be completed and utilized in lieu of a CVI (health certificate/health chart) as long as the documented animals move to an out of state slaughter facility without interim stops or offloading after they cross state lines/move out of Vermont. In other words, the OSS may only be used if the first/only stop/offloading after crossing the VT border into another state is at a slaughter facility.
Because this can be a confusing topic, we offer the following movement scenario examples for clarity:
- Lactating dairy cattle moving from a Vermont farm to a Vermont auction market/commingling point and then directly to an out of state slaughter facility may move on an OSS rather than a CVI (health certificate/health chart). The OSS should list the auction market /commingling point as the origin and the out of state slaughter facility as the destination. A negative influenza A test is not required in this instance. Licensed livestock dealers and approved markets managing and handling the instate/Vermont movements of these lactating dairy cows are still required to create and maintain the same animal traceability records that are always applicable per Vermont law.
- Lactating dairy cattle moving from a Vermont farm directly to an out of state slaughter facility without any interim stops may move on an OSS rather than a CVI (health certificate/health chart). The OSS should list the dairy farm as the origin and the out of state slaughter facility as the destination. A negative influenza A test is not required in this instance.
- Lactating dairy cattle moving from a Vermont farm to an out of state auction market/commingling point and then to an out of state slaughter facility still require a CVI for that interstate movement. A negative influenza A test is required in this instance.
Also note the following:
- As previously stated, VT-licensed livestock dealers are still required to generate and maintain the same animal acquisition and disposition records that are always applicable per VT law.
- We have outlined here the most common slaughter dairy cattle interstate movement types for reference, but we are happy to answer questions you may have about movements that are not captured in this update. Please contact us at (802)828-2421 with any questions.
- The OSS form (linked here and below) is the document that has been agreed upon by 48 states for certain interstate movements of lactating dairy cows. To avoid confusion or the potential for shipments being rejected, please use this OSS form for these movements rather than others that you would otherwise utilize.
- Please note that the OSS must be emailed to the origin and destination states using the addresses in the fillable forms. Please email this form to the origin and destination states as soon as possible after issuance but no later than 3 business days after issuance.
Thank you, and we will continue to provide updates as this situation evolves.
Kristin M. Haas, DVM | State Veterinarian | Deputy Director, Food Safety & Consumer Protection
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets | (802)828-2421