Livestock Disease Reporting in Kansas: Rules, Deadlines, and Legal Obligations

Kansas ranks among the top livestock-producing states in the nation, and protecting that agricultural foundation depends heavily on one critical practice: timely, accurate disease reporting. When a contagious or exotic disease takes hold in a herd, every hour of delay increases the risk of spread — to neighboring operations, to other species, and in some cases, to people.

If you own, manage, or work with livestock in Kansas, understanding your reporting obligations is not optional. A “reportable disease” is any unusual occurrence of any exotic or newly-recognized disease the animal health commissioner determines to be immediately reportable. This guide walks you through which diseases trigger a report, who is legally required to file one, how to do it, and what happens if you don’t.

Reportable Livestock Diseases in Kansas

Through consolidation of the Livestock Sanitary Commission and the State Brand Commission in 1969, the Kansas Division of Animal Health (DAH) was created. Currently, there are three programs that make up the DAH — Animal Disease Control, Animal Facilities Inspection, and the Brands Program — all of which work to ensure the health and welfare of Kansas livestock and domestic animals.

Kansas continues to be Brucellosis, Tuberculosis, and Pseudorabies free due to a diligent effort to eradicate infectious and contagious livestock diseases throughout the state. Maintaining that status requires producers, veterinarians, and industry professionals to recognize and report diseases promptly.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health maintains a downloadable poster listing all animal-related reportable diseases. The list includes both domestic and foreign animal diseases across multiple species. Key diseases you need to know include:

• Anthrax — Cattle, sheep, goats, and horses are the livestock species most commonly affected. Anthrax spores are extremely resistant and can survive in the environment for years. They are usually reactivated by climatic changes, such as heavy rain and drought.
• African Swine Fever (ASF) — A contagious viral disease of swine for which there is no treatment or vaccine. Although ASF has never found its way to North America, the results of an outbreak would be devastating to the U.S. swine industry.
• Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) — A highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hooved livestock including cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and deer.
• Avian Influenza (AI) — An infectious viral disease of birds, capable of decimating entire flocks. Clinical signs include depression, decreased feed and water intake, diarrhea, sinusitis, blood-tinged oral and nasal discharge, and sudden death. Affected flocks in the U.S. are usually depopulated to prevent the spread of disease.
• Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) — A type of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in cattle caused by an infectious protein known as a prion.
• Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) — Under K.S.A. 47-1833, chronic wasting disease test results must be reported to the animal health commissioner.
• Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) — The incubation period can last up to two weeks, meaning a horse can appear normal while still shedding the virus and act as a carrier.

This list is not exhaustive. The Animal Health Commissioner has authority to designate additional diseases as reportable at any time. You should regularly check the KDA Division of Animal Health’s animal diseases page for the most current list, or contact the office directly.

Who Is Required to Report a Livestock Disease in Kansas

Reporting obligations in Kansas extend well beyond the farm gate. All livestock consigned and delivered on the premises of any licensed public livestock market, before being offered for sale, shall be inspected by a veterinarian authorized by the commissioner who shall visually examine or test, or both, each animal consigned to such market, for the purpose of determining its condition of health and freedom of clinical signs of infectious or contagious animal diseases that are determined to be reportable by the animal health commissioner.

More broadly, the following parties carry reporting responsibilities under Kansas law and regulation:

• Licensed and accredited veterinarians — Any veterinarian who suspects or confirms a reportable disease during examination, testing, or treatment of livestock is required to notify the Division of Animal Health. This applies to both large-animal practitioners and veterinarians conducting official herd testing.
• Livestock owners and operators — If you own, keep, or have custody of livestock and observe signs consistent with a reportable disease, you are expected to report. You do not need to wait for a veterinarian’s confirmation.
• Livestock market operators and market veterinarians — Such regulatory veterinary services shall be contracted for by the animal health commissioner, who shall select an accredited veterinarian for each public livestock market. The public livestock market operator, for each public livestock market, shall submit to the animal health commissioner a list of accredited veterinarians to be considered for the position.
• Diagnostic laboratories — State veterinarians positioned around Kansas work directly with local livestock producers, feedlots, and slaughterhouses to immediately sample and test any suspected cases of foot-and-mouth disease, as well as other regulatory or reportable animal diseases, and send them to the KSVDL to get tested.
• Feedlot and commercial operation employees — Operations with a Secure Beef Supply Plan are required to train employees on general disease reporting, biosecurity principles and practices, and FMD surveillance. Employees must be trained on an annual basis and training records must be maintained by the operation.

If you work with zoonotic diseases that can transfer between animals and humans, your reporting obligations may also involve the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) in addition to the Division of Animal Health.

Signs and Symptoms That Trigger a Report in Kansas

Knowing which clinical signs warrant a call to the Division of Animal Health is one of the most practical skills a Kansas livestock producer can have. You should not wait until a diagnosis is confirmed — the appearance of certain symptoms alone is enough to trigger your reporting obligation.

Contact the Kansas Division of Animal Health immediately if you observe any of the following in your herd or flock:

• Sudden or unexplained death — Especially multiple animals dying in a short period without obvious cause
• Neurological signs — Fever, depression, muscle tremors, staggering, incoordination, difficulty breathing, bloody discharge from body orifices, and sudden death are all signs associated with anthrax and other reportable diseases
• Severe respiratory distress — Labored breathing, nasal discharge, or coughing across multiple animals
• Blistering or lesions on the mouth, feet, or teats — A hallmark of foot-and-mouth disease and vesicular diseases
• Skin discoloration, vomiting, or abortions in swine — Clinical signs for African Swine Fever can occur within 5 to 15 days after exposure and include skin discoloration, diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, and abortions.
• Rapid flock-wide decline in poultry — Clinical signs of avian influenza include depression, decreased feed and water intake, diarrhea, sinusitis, blood-tinged oral and nasal discharge, and sudden death.
• Unusual tick infestations — The Asian longhorned tick has now reached Kansas as of October 2025. These ticks do not have a preferred site on animals but will swarm an area on them. Animals can die from blood loss due to large infestations.

For bovine diseases in particular, any combination of rapid onset, high morbidity, or unusual presentation should prompt an immediate call — not a wait-and-see approach. The same principle applies to poultry operations; learn more about Newcastle disease and other serious avian conditions that share symptoms with reportable diseases.

How to Report a Livestock Disease in Kansas

Reporting a suspected or confirmed livestock disease in Kansas is straightforward, but it must be done through the correct channels and with accurate information. Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Call the Kansas Division of Animal Health directly. To report a disease from the reportable disease list, call the Kansas Division of Animal Health at 785-564-6601. This is the primary and fastest reporting method for livestock disease concerns.
2. Provide complete information about the situation. When you call, be prepared to share your name and contact information, your premises location, the species and approximate number of animals affected, the clinical signs you have observed, how long signs have been present, and any recent animal movements onto or off your property.
3. Isolate affected animals immediately. While you are awaiting a response from state officials, separate sick or suspicious animals from the rest of your herd or flock to reduce the risk of further spread.
4. Do not move animals off premises without authorization. It is unlawful to keep a diseased animal where other domestic animals not previously exposed to such disease may be exposed, or to sell, ship, drive, trade, or give away such diseased and infected animals, except by sale, trade, or gift to a regularly licensed disposal plant.
5. Contact your accredited veterinarian. If you have not already done so, notify your veterinarian so they can assist with examination, sample collection, and documentation for the state investigation.
6. Submit samples to the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory if directed. The KSVDL is a member of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Animal Health Laboratory Network, which monitors for outbreaks of diseases such as African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease. State officials will direct you on proper sample collection and submission protocols.

For livestock disease reporting in other states, see our guides on livestock disease reporting in Florida, livestock disease reporting in California, livestock disease reporting in Colorado, and livestock disease reporting in Illinois.

Reporting Deadlines and Timeframes in Kansas

Not all diseases carry the same urgency, and Kansas law reflects that distinction with tiered reporting timeframes. Understanding which category a disease falls into helps you act within the legally required window.

Animal disease traceability — knowing where diseased and at-risk animals are, where they’ve been, and when — is important to ensure a rapid response when animal disease events take place. An efficient and accurate animal disease traceability system helps reduce the number of animals involved in an investigation, reduces the time needed to respond, and decreases the cost to producers and the government.

For diseases involving potential public health implications — such as rabies or certain zoonotic conditions — you may also be required to report to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment simultaneously. For 4-hour reportable diseases, report to the KDHE Epidemiology Hotline at 877-427-7317. For all other reportable diseases, fax a Kansas Reportable Disease Form and any lab results to your local health department or to KDHE at 877-427-7318 within 24 hours or by the next business day.

What Happens After You Report in Kansas

Once you make a report to the Kansas Division of Animal Health, a structured response process begins. Knowing what to expect helps you cooperate effectively and protect your operation to the greatest extent possible.

Initial Investigation

State veterinarians positioned around Kansas work directly with local livestock producers, feedlots, and slaughterhouses to immediately sample and test any suspected cases of foot-and-mouth disease, as well as other regulatory or reportable animal diseases, and send them to the KSVDL to get tested — be it during business hours or at 2 a.m. A state veterinarian or field investigator will typically contact you to arrange an on-site visit.

Quarantine Orders

If the investigation warrants it, the Animal Health Commissioner has authority to issue quarantine orders. Quarantine and other regulations may be enforced by notice of quarantine, proclamation by the governor, and direction by the governor with assistance from any state agency. During a quarantine, you will not be permitted to move animals off your premises without explicit state authorization.

Laboratory Testing

One of the most important roles the KSVDL plays is surveilling for and responding to any potential outbreaks of foreign animal diseases on Kansas soil. The KSVDL is a member of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Animal Health Laboratory Network, which monitors for outbreaks of diseases such as African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease. Samples collected from your animals will be processed and results communicated to state officials.

Depopulation and Indemnity

In severe cases — particularly with foreign animal diseases — depopulation of affected animals may be ordered. The animal health commissioner is authorized to register original veterinary certificates and establish rules and regulations on farm and exotic animals. Producers who comply with reporting and official orders are generally eligible for state and federal indemnity programs that compensate for animals destroyed under official order. Failure to report, however, can disqualify you from that compensation.

Traceability and Contact Investigation

In cooperation with USDA, the Kansas Department of Agriculture provides a three-year strategic Animal Disease Traceability Road Map that outlines the state’s long-term plan and strategy for implementing and enhancing animal disease traceability. This roadmap reflects Kansas’s commitment to enhancing disease response capabilities, improving livestock traceability infrastructure within the state, and collaborating with industry partners to protect animal health and the agricultural economy.

For a broader look at how animal disease investigations work across species, our guides on livestock disease reporting in Michigan and zoonotic diseases provide useful context.

Penalties for Failing to Report in Kansas

Kansas law takes non-compliance with livestock disease reporting seriously. Penalties can be civil, financial, and — in some circumstances — criminal. Understanding the consequences reinforces why timely reporting is not just good practice, but a legal obligation.

Civil Penalties Under K.S.A. 47-624

In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person who has in their possession any domestic animal affected with any contagious or infectious disease, knowing such animal to be so affected, may incur a civil penalty if such person keeps such animal where other domestic animals not previously exposed to such disease may be exposed, or sells, ships, drives, trades, or gives away such diseased and infected animal except by sale, trade, or gift to a regularly licensed disposal plant, or moves or drives any domestic animal in violation of the rules and regulations, directions, or orders establishing and regulating quarantine.

Criminal and Additional Civil Penalties

Kansas statutes establish multiple layers of enforcement. Transportation of uninspected animals into state carries criminal and civil penalties for violations, and submission of records to the commissioner for review may be required. Violations related to specific disease programs — such as pseudorabies or hog cholera — carry their own dedicated penalty provisions under the Kansas statutes.

License and Permit Consequences

For licensed livestock dealers, market operators, and veterinarians, non-compliance can result in professional consequences. Grounds for refusal to issue or renew, or for suspension or revocation of a license or permit, include violations of animal health statutes. A license suspension can effectively halt your commercial livestock operation.

Loss of Indemnity Eligibility

One of the most financially significant consequences of failing to report is the potential loss of indemnity compensation. Federal and state programs that compensate producers for animals depopulated under official orders require full compliance with reporting requirements. If you fail to report and the disease spreads before detection, you may be disqualified from receiving any compensation — even for animals on your property that were not initially infected.

Employer Retaliation Protections

Kansas law also protects individuals who report disease concerns. Employer retribution for reporting is prohibited, and a legal remedy is available to those who face retaliation. If you are an employee who reports a suspected disease and faces consequences from your employer for doing so, you have legal recourse under Kansas statute.

Understanding your full obligations — including those related to specific diseases like bovine diseases and Newcastle disease in poultry — is the best protection against unintentional non-compliance. If you work with companion animals alongside livestock, be aware that disease reporting obligations can also apply to birds and other species kept on the same premises.

Conclusion

Livestock disease reporting in Kansas is a shared responsibility that protects individual producers, neighboring operations, and the state’s broader agricultural economy. The Kansas Division of Animal Health’s three programs — Animal Disease Control, Animal Facilities Inspection, and the Brands Program — all work to ensure the health and welfare of Kansas livestock and domestic animals.

Your key takeaways: know which diseases are on the reportable list, recognize the clinical signs that trigger a report, call the Division of Animal Health at 785-564-6601 as soon as you suspect a problem, and do not move animals until you have official guidance. Acting early protects your herd, your indemnity eligibility, and your standing under Kansas law.

For questions about import and export requirements, contact the Kansas Division of Animal Health directly at 1320 Research Park Drive, Manhattan, Kansas 66502. You can also explore additional animal health resources through the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the livestock disease reporting guides for other states in our series.