June 2025 C. E. Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory Newsletter

Newsletter Content

At Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory, we’re proud to support the next generation of veterinary professionals. This month, we are spotlighting two outstanding team members who have been accepted into veterinary school. Join us in congratulating Morgan Roberts and Ben Hayes on this exciting milestone. Morgan will apply her knowledge and hands on experience to Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, while Ben will be attending Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine. We wish them both the best on their next adventure.

All cattle and bison must be officially identified before brucellosis testing. This ensures traceability and complies with both state and federal regulations. As of November 5, 2024, the USDA mandates that all official ID tags applied to cattle and bison must be both visually and electronically readable. The only tags that meet this new standard are 15-digit 840 RFID tags, which begin with the number "840." Animals born before November 5, 2024, can keep their current visual-only tags for life. However, if those tags are lost, they must be replaced with a new 840 RFID tag. When submitting brucellosis test charts, the official ID number must be recorded accurately. For animals with visual-only tags applied before the rule change, the existing tag number should be used. For animals with new 840 RFID tags, the electronic ID number should be recorded. Failure to record the proper IDs or submit required paperwork for testing will result in delayed results or no results. Please note, the lab can only hold serum specimens for 30 days after receipt.For additional resources on brucellosis IDs or filling out forms, please refer to the links below:

For official IDs accepted on brucellosis forms: Official Eartags - Criteria and Options 

For assistance with completing a brucellosis test chart, contactLeslie F. Cmach, DVM, MPH at Leslie.f.cmach@usda.gov.

• Collect fresh ear notches approximately 1 cm x 1 cm (3/8” x 3/8”) using the correct ear notching tool.

• Do not use Sheather’s solution—DNA tissue samples in this medium will be rejected.

• Clean ears with water only; disinfectants can affect test results.

• Ear notches must be free of dirt, feces, tattoo ink, and BVD vaccine.

• Do not tattoo or vaccinate during sample collection.

• Place each ear notch in a clean red top tube (no residue, separator, or preservative), label consecutively, and include animal ID.•Do not add saline or media to the tubes.

• Keep samples cool until shipping, and use adequate ice packs in the cooler.

For additional questions regarding ear notches, please call us at 615-837-5125.    

The feedback link can be found on the final report email. Questions change monthly and we encourage you to comment frequently to help us improve services.