Livestock Disease Reporting in Tennessee: What Every Producer and Veterinarian Must Know

If you raise cattle, swine, poultry, sheep, goats, or horses in Tennessee, knowing when and how to report a suspected disease is one of the most important regulatory obligations you carry. A single unreported case of a highly contagious illness can spread across county lines before anyone has a chance to respond — and the consequences for neighboring farms, the state’s agricultural economy, and public health can be severe.

Tennessee’s livestock disease reporting system is built on a partnership between producers, licensed veterinarians, and state and federal animal health officials. Understanding your role in that system — and acting quickly when something looks wrong — protects your herd, your livelihood, and the broader agricultural community across the state.

Reportable Livestock Diseases in Tennessee

The reporting of evidence of certain animal diseases is a requirement under the Standards for Accreditation of Veterinarians in Tennessee and all other states, and these diseases must be reported to the State Veterinarian or USDA APHIS VS Area Veterinarian in Charge. Tennessee’s reportable disease framework covers two broad categories.

Reportable diseases include all diseases for which control or eradication programs are in effect, and all foreign animal diseases not known to exist in this country. In addition to the evidence of diseases, there are certain conditions that should be reported as soon as possible to the State Veterinarian’s office.

The following diseases and conditions are among those reportable under Tennessee’s animal health program. Always verify the current list with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, as it is subject to revision:

• Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)
• Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
• Classical Swine Fever (Hog Cholera)
• African Swine Fever
• Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE / Mad Cow Disease)
• Brucellosis (cattle, swine, and goats)
• Tuberculosis (bovine)
• Vesicular Stomatitis
• Anthrax
• Pseudorabies (Aujeszky’s Disease)
• Scrapie (sheep and goats)
• Rabies (livestock)
• Newcastle Disease
• Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA)
• Exotic Newcastle Disease
• Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in captive cervids
• Swine Enteric Coronavirus Diseases (SECD), including PED
• Any suspected foreign animal disease not known to exist in the United States

The National Animal Health Reporting System (NAHRS) is the only comprehensive reporting system for WOAH-reportable diseases in the United States. Tennessee participates in this federal framework, meaning certain diseases reported at the state level also flow upward to national surveillance systems. You can learn more about diseases like Newcastle disease and how they affect livestock operations.

Who Is Required to Report a Livestock Disease in Tennessee

Reporting obligations in Tennessee fall on multiple parties — not just veterinarians. Understanding exactly who carries this duty prevents gaps that can allow disease to spread undetected.

The reporting of evidence of certain animal diseases is a requirement under the Standards for Accreditation of Veterinarians in Tennessee and all other states; these diseases must be reported to the State Veterinarian or USDA APHIS VS Area Veterinarian in Charge, and it is the professional responsibility of the veterinarian to report these diseases properly and promptly so that appropriate control measures may be instituted.

Beyond licensed veterinarians, the following individuals are also expected to report known or suspected reportable diseases in Tennessee:

• Livestock owners and producers — including operators of cattle, swine, poultry, sheep, goat, and equine operations
• Livestock market operators — anyone who buys, receives, or assembles livestock for resale
• Slaughterhouse and processing facility employees — who may observe disease signs at ante-mortem or post-mortem inspection
• Diagnostic laboratory personnel — upon identification of a reportable pathogen from submitted samples
• Extension agents and other agricultural professionals — who observe suspicious clinical signs in the field

Under Tennessee Code § 44-2-102, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) and the State Veterinarian have the authority to monitor avian species for communicable diseases, focusing on poultry health and biosecurity. Because the state classifies “livestock” to include all avian species under § 44-2-101, poultry producers carry the same reporting obligations as cattle or swine operators.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Division works to protect animal health through import requirements, movement restrictions, and livestock traceability. If you move animals across state lines, those obligations extend to federal requirements as well. For a comparison of how neighboring states handle similar obligations, see our guide to livestock disease reporting in Florida and livestock disease reporting in Illinois.

Signs and Symptoms That Trigger a Report in Tennessee

You do not need a confirmed laboratory diagnosis to file a report. Tennessee’s system is designed to catch disease early — which means you should report based on clinical observations alone. The following signs and symptom clusters are among the most common triggers.

Vesicular and Oral Lesions

Blisters, erosions, or ulcers on the mouth, tongue, feet, or teats of cattle, swine, sheep, or horses are classic warning signs of foot-and-mouth disease or vesicular stomatitis. Vesicular stomatitis is a viral disease that primarily affects horses and cattle. Any vesicular lesion in these species warrants an immediate call to your veterinarian or the State Veterinarian’s office.

Sudden or Unexplained Deaths

A single unexplained death in an otherwise healthy herd or flock — especially if accompanied by rapid onset — may indicate anthrax, clostridial disease, or a foreign animal disease. Movement of livestock introduces the potential spread of infectious diseases and other health threats, and several diseases have no vaccine or preventative options, and others have no effective treatments. Do not wait for multiple deaths before calling.

Respiratory Distress and High Mortality in Poultry

Sudden, high mortality rates in a poultry flock — particularly when combined with swollen heads, discoloration of combs and wattles, or a sharp drop in egg production — are classic indicators of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza or Exotic Newcastle Disease. Both are immediate-report diseases. You can review general information about common diseases in birds to better understand baseline signs of illness.

Neurological Signs

Staggering, circling, head pressing, seizures, or unexplained aggression in cattle, horses, swine, or small ruminants may indicate rabies, BSE, or other neurological conditions. Rabies in livestock is reportable in Tennessee and carries additional public health significance as a zoonotic disease.

Reproductive Failure and Abortion Storms

A cluster of abortions, stillbirths, or infertility problems across multiple animals in a short timeframe can signal brucellosis or other reportable reproductive diseases. Brucellosis is a serious zoonotic concern and one of the most closely monitored diseases in Tennessee cattle herds.

How to Report a Livestock Disease in Tennessee

Tennessee provides multiple pathways for reporting a known or suspected reportable disease. The method you use may depend on the urgency of the situation and whether the disease is suspected to be a foreign animal disease (FAD).

Step 1: Contact Your Accredited Veterinarian First

In most non-emergency situations, your first call should be to your licensed, accredited veterinarian. It is the professional responsibility of the veterinarian to report these diseases properly and promptly so that appropriate control measures may be instituted. Your veterinarian will conduct a clinical examination, collect samples if warranted, and initiate the formal report to the appropriate authorities.

Step 2: Contact the Tennessee State Veterinarian’s Office

You can contact the State Veterinarian’s office directly at any time. The State Veterinarian’s office is located at Ellington Agricultural Center, 440 Hogan Rd., Porter Bldg., P.O. Box 40627, Nashville, Tennessee 37204. The office can also be reached by phone at (615) 837-5120 or by email at animal.health@tn.gov.

Step 3: Contact USDA APHIS for Foreign Animal Disease Suspicions

These diseases must be reported to the State Veterinarian or USDA APHIS VS Area Veterinarian in Charge. If you suspect a foreign animal disease — one not known to exist in the United States — you should contact both the State Veterinarian and the USDA APHIS Area Veterinarian in Charge simultaneously. For after hours and weekends, call the FAD Hotline at 866-536-7593.

Step 4: Implement Immediate Biosecurity Measures

While awaiting a response from officials, isolate any sick or dead animals from the rest of your herd or flock. Restrict movement onto and off your premises. Do not dispose of carcasses until instructed by animal health officials. Animal disease traceability enables animal health officials to know where diseased and at-risk animals are, where they have been, when they were there, and what other animals may have been exposed.

1. Isolate sick animals from healthy ones immediately
2. Restrict all animal movement on and off the premises
3. Secure carcasses — do not bury, burn, or dispose of them without authorization
4. Limit farm access to essential personnel only
5. Document clinical signs, onset date, number of animals affected, and any recent animal movements
6. Collect and preserve any relevant records (purchase receipts, movement documents, vaccination history)

For context on how other states structure their reporting processes, see our guides on livestock disease reporting in California and livestock disease reporting in Michigan.

Reporting Deadlines and Timeframes in Tennessee

Tennessee’s reporting requirements distinguish between diseases based on their urgency and their potential for rapid spread. Not all reportable diseases carry the same timeline, but the general rule across the state and federal framework is: report promptly, and when in doubt, report immediately.

Immediate Reporting (Within 24 Hours or Less)

Foreign animal diseases and any disease not known to exist in the United States must be reported immediately — meaning as soon as you observe or suspect the condition, not after a confirmed diagnosis. This category includes Foot-and-Mouth Disease, African Swine Fever, Classical Swine Fever, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, and BSE. If an animal is transported to a different geographical area and later displays clinical signs of a reportable disease, the prior location can be traced to inform health officials of the potential of an outbreak in that area. Delay in reporting these diseases can trigger multi-county or multi-state response efforts.

Prompt Reporting (Within 24–48 Hours)

Diseases that are endemic but subject to active eradication or control programs — such as brucellosis, tuberculosis, and equine infectious anemia — generally require reporting within 24 to 48 hours of a positive test result or strong clinical suspicion. Your accredited veterinarian is responsible for initiating this report upon diagnosis or upon receipt of a positive laboratory result.

Routine Reporting

Some conditions require reporting within a standard window (often within the same business week) upon laboratory confirmation. Diagnostic laboratory personnel are required to report positive findings for listed diseases regardless of whether the submitting veterinarian has already done so.

An efficient and accurate animal disease traceability system helps to reduce the number of animals involved in an investigation, reduce the time needed to respond, and ultimately reduce the cost to livestock producers. Timely reporting is directly tied to how quickly a disease event can be contained and how many animals and farms are ultimately affected.

What Happens After You Report in Tennessee

Once a report is filed, Tennessee’s animal health response system moves through a structured sequence of steps. Understanding this process helps you know what to expect and how to cooperate effectively.

Initial Assessment and Investigation

The State Veterinarian’s office or a USDA APHIS representative will contact you to gather additional information and, in most cases, schedule an on-site visit. A foreign animal disease diagnostician (FADD) may be dispatched if the suspected disease warrants federal involvement. Officials will conduct a clinical examination, collect diagnostic samples, and assess the scope of potential exposure.

Quarantine and Movement Restrictions

Depending on the suspected disease, officials may issue a quarantine order restricting the movement of animals, equipment, vehicles, and personnel on your premises. Officials will issue or cause to be issued all necessary quarantines for such animals, and a copy of the quarantine shall be sent to the state veterinarian immediately following issuance, with instructions given to the owner that the truck moving the quarantined animals must be cleaned and disinfected before being used again to transport livestock.

Laboratory Testing and Diagnosis

Samples collected during the investigation are submitted to an approved diagnostic laboratory — typically the University of Tennessee Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory or the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, for foreign animal disease confirmation. Results timelines vary by disease and testing method.

Disease Control and Eradication Measures

If a reportable disease is confirmed, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and USDA APHIS will implement a coordinated response. This may include:

• Depopulation of affected and exposed animals (for high-consequence diseases)
• Vaccination programs (where an approved vaccine exists)
• Expanded tracing of animal movements to identify exposed herds or flocks
• Cleaning and disinfection protocols for premises, equipment, and vehicles
• Indemnity payments to producers for depopulated animals under applicable federal programs

The representative shall supervise the cleaning and disinfecting of the yards and pens at such time as may be necessary, using only those disinfectants approved by the animal disease eradication branch of the agricultural research service of the United States Department of Agriculture.

For producers who raise cattle specifically, our bovine disease overview provides helpful background on the major conditions that can affect your herd. If your operation includes animals beyond traditional livestock, see our guide to livestock disease reporting in Colorado for another state’s approach to multi-species programs.

Premises Release

A quarantine is lifted only after officials have determined that the disease risk has been eliminated. This typically requires a defined waiting period after the last case, followed by a satisfactory premises inspection. The timeframe varies significantly by disease — ranging from weeks to several months for the most serious foreign animal diseases.

Penalties for Failing to Report in Tennessee

Tennessee law takes non-compliance with animal disease reporting seriously. Penalties can apply to both licensed professionals and lay producers who knowingly fail to report a suspected or confirmed reportable disease.

Regulatory and Civil Penalties

Poultry health and disease control, including mandatory reporting of certain diseases, fall under Tennessee Code Title 44, Chapter 2. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture has authority under this chapter to pursue civil penalties against individuals and operations that violate animal health regulations, including failure to report. Fines and penalties are assessed on a per-violation basis and may increase for repeat or willful violations.

Veterinarian Accreditation Consequences

The reporting of evidence of certain animal diseases is a requirement under the Standards for Accreditation of Veterinarians in Tennessee and all other states. A licensed veterinarian who fails to report a known reportable disease may face disciplinary action through the USDA’s veterinary accreditation program, which can include suspension or revocation of accreditation — effectively ending the veterinarian’s ability to issue health certificates and conduct official testing.

Federal Consequences

For diseases that fall under federal jurisdiction — particularly foreign animal diseases — failure to report can trigger federal enforcement actions under the Animal Health Protection Act (AHPA). Federal penalties can include substantial fines and, in cases of willful concealment, criminal prosecution.

Liability for Spread of Disease

Beyond formal regulatory penalties, a producer who fails to report a known disease and whose animals subsequently spread that disease to neighboring farms may face civil liability for economic damages. This risk is especially significant for highly contagious diseases like HPAI or foot-and-mouth disease, where a single delay can result in the depopulation of multiple flocks or herds across a region.

Tennessee’s reporting system is ultimately designed to protect producers, not penalize them. “The federal rule is an effective way to trace the movement of livestock in an animal disease event so that appropriate action can be taken to limit the impact on producers,” as the State Veterinarian’s office has noted. Early, voluntary reporting consistently leads to faster containment, lower indemnity costs, and shorter quarantine periods for everyone involved.

If you operate in multiple states or are expanding your herd across state lines, it is worth reviewing how other states approach these obligations — our guides on Florida, California, Colorado, Illinois, and Michigan cover the key requirements in each state. For a broader understanding of how diseases move between animals and people, see our resource on zoonotic diseases.

The bottom line for Tennessee livestock producers and veterinarians is straightforward: when you see something that does not look right, report it. The State Veterinarian’s office at (615) 837-5120 and the USDA FAD Hotline at 1-866-536-7593 are available around the clock for urgent situations. Acting early is the single most effective step you can take to protect your animals, your operation, and Tennessee’s agricultural industry as a whole.