By Jamie Martin
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced a new program to provide no-cost RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) eartags to swine producers starting in the fall of 2025. The initiative, aimed at improving swine disease traceability, will help sow and exhibition swine producers track and trace their herds more effectively.
APHIS awarded a contract to Merck Animal Health in July 2025 to supply up to $20 million worth of RFID tags to the swine industry over the next five years. The program is modeled after a successful cattle tag initiative and is intended to support the national swine herd’s traceability system. While animal disease traceability doesn’t stop diseases from spreading, it speeds up the investigation process and reduces the spread of disease, thereby minimizing economic loss for producers and surrounding communities.
Producers and State animal health officials will be able to order RFID tags directly from Merck’s website. To qualify, producers will need a valid premises identification number and details on the number of sows or exhibition pigs at their farm. Tags will be shipped directly to the producer’s location, streamlining the distribution process.
Importantly, producers must supply their own compatible applicator for applying the RFID tags, as the program does not include this equipment.
This initiative will enhance swine disease traceability, providing faster response times to disease outbreaks and contributing to the continued health and marketability of U.S. swine products.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: National