Livestock Disease Reporting in Nevada: Rules Every Owner and Veterinarian Must Know

If you raise cattle, sheep, goats, swine, poultry, or any other livestock in Nevada, you carry a legal obligation that goes beyond feeding and managing your herd. When disease strikes — or even when you suspect it might — state law requires you to act quickly and report what you see to the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA).

Failing to understand those obligations can expose you to quarantine orders, civil penalties, and even criminal charges under Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 571. This guide walks you through every layer of the state’s livestock disease reporting framework so you know exactly what is required of you, when to act, and what happens once you do.

Reportable Livestock Diseases in Nevada

Nevada maintains its own official list of reportable diseases in terrestrial animals, administered through the NDA’s Office of the State Veterinarian. The NDA’s Animal Disease Laboratory plays a central role in the diagnosis and eradication of quarantinable animal diseases in cooperation with federal agencies, private veterinarians, and livestock owners, and is also responsible for the diagnosis and control of animal diseases that are of economic or public health significance. The NDA publishes a dedicated Nevada Reportable Diseases list that is organized by species and updated as regulatory priorities change.

The reportable disease framework covers a wide range of conditions across multiple livestock species. Key diseases and categories on Nevada’s list include the following:

• Cattle and Bison: Brucellosis, Bovine Tuberculosis, Trichomonosis (Trichomoniasis), Anaplasmosis, Johne’s Disease (Paratuberculosis), Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), and Foot-and-Mouth Disease
• Sheep and Goats: Scrapie, Brucellosis (B. melitensis), Contagious Ecthyma (Orf), and Caseous Lymphadenitis
• Swine: Classical Swine Fever, African Swine Fever, Pseudorabies (Aujeszky’s Disease), and Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV)
• Equine: Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV), Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), and Equine Viral Arteritis
• Poultry and Avian: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), Newcastle Disease, and Exotic Newcastle Disease
• All Species: Rabies, Anthrax, and any disease of unknown etiology causing high morbidity or mortality

Trichomoniasis is a confirmed reportable disease in Nevada, and it receives specific regulatory attention under NAC Chapter 571 due to its economic impact on cattle herds. Nevada regulates brucellosis primarily through Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) Chapter 571 and Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) Chapter 571, which grant the NDA broad authority to classify herds, impose testing requirements, issue quarantine orders, and enforce compliance.

Beyond state-level requirements, Nevada’s framework aligns with federal oversight. The National Animal Health Reporting System (NAHRS) is the only comprehensive reporting system for WOAH-reportable diseases in the United States, and Nevada participates in that national network. You can also explore how bovine diseases and zoonotic diseases are categorized more broadly to better understand why certain conditions trigger mandatory reporting obligations.

Who Is Required to Report a Livestock Disease in Nevada

Nevada law casts a wide net when it comes to who bears the reporting obligation. You do not need to be a veterinarian to be legally required to file a report. Under NRS 571.160, if any animal becomes infected with any infectious, contagious, or parasitic disease as defined by rules and regulations adopted by the State Quarantine Officer, the owner or agent in charge of the infected animal, or any inspector of the Department, or any practicing veterinarian who has knowledge of the infected animal, shall immediately notify the State Quarantine Officer.

In practical terms, the following parties carry a mandatory reporting duty in Nevada:

• Livestock owners — anyone who owns cattle, swine, sheep, goats, horses, poultry, or other regulated species
• Herd managers and farm operators — persons who have day-to-day care or control of animals, even without ownership
• Licensed and accredited veterinarians — including large-animal practitioners, mixed-practice vets, and veterinary technicians who diagnose or suspect a reportable condition
• Veterinary diagnostic laboratories — any laboratory that identifies or suspects a reportable disease from submitted samples
• NDA inspectors — department field staff who observe signs during routine inspections or brand inspections

Any licensed veterinarian or veterinary diagnostic laboratory is responsible for reporting disease conditions or suspicions of disease within the timeframe allotted after diagnosis. This means the duty to report is triggered by suspicion — not just confirmed laboratory diagnosis. If you observe clinical signs consistent with a reportable disease, you are required to act before test results return.

For alternative livestock permit holders, the obligation is equally clear. The holder of a permit shall, immediately after discovering that any of the alternative livestock held under the authority of that permit has escaped or become infected with any disease, report the escape or infection to the Department.

If you raise cattle or bison specifically, you should also review the detailed obligations covered in Nevada’s brucellosis statutes. Nevada law imposes mandatory reporting obligations on any person who knows or suspects that an animal in their care has been exposed to or infected with brucellosis, and under NRS 571.100, veterinarians, livestock owners, and herd managers are all legally required to report suspected cases to the Nevada Department of Agriculture without delay. You can also review how neighboring states structure similar obligations by reading about livestock disease reporting in California and livestock disease reporting in Colorado.

Signs and Symptoms That Trigger a Report in Nevada

You are not expected to make a definitive diagnosis before filing a report. Nevada’s reporting standard is based on suspicion and clinical observation. If you observe signs that are consistent with a reportable disease — even if you are uncertain — you are required to notify the NDA. Waiting for laboratory confirmation before reporting can put you in violation of state law.

The following clinical signs should prompt an immediate call to the NDA or your accredited veterinarian:

You should report any suspicious clinical or necropsy findings accompanied by a history of people or animals that have recently returned from a foreign country, and report any disease of unknown etiology causing high mortality or morbidity. This is particularly relevant for Nevada ranchers who move livestock across state or international borders.

For HPAI specifically, the NDA has issued active guidance. To help protect Nevada’s avian and dairy cattle populations, sick or dead wild birds should be reported to the Nevada Department of Wildlife, sick or dead domestic birds should be reported to your local veterinarian and the Nevada Department of Agriculture, and sick dairy cattle should also be reported to your local veterinarian and the NDA. Understanding Newcastle Disease and other reportable avian conditions can help poultry owners recognize warning signs before an outbreak spreads.

How to Report a Livestock Disease in Nevada

When you identify signs that warrant a report, your first step is to contact the Nevada Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Industry. You should not wait to compile extensive documentation before making initial contact — a phone call describing what you are observing is sufficient to start the process.

Here is the step-by-step process for reporting a suspected livestock disease in Nevada:

1. Call the NDA Division of Animal Industry — Reach the division by phone at (775) 353-3709 or by email at animalindustry@agri.nv.gov. A copy of all materials relating to proposals and regulatory matters may also be obtained by visiting the Department’s website at agri.nv.gov or by contacting the Division of Animal Industry at (775) 353-3709 or animalindustry@agri.nv.gov.
2. Contact your accredited veterinarian simultaneously — If you are a livestock owner rather than a veterinarian, contact your accredited vet at the same time you contact the NDA. Your vet can perform a clinical examination, collect diagnostic samples, and file the official report on your behalf if appropriate.
3. Isolate the affected animals immediately — Separate sick or suspect animals from the rest of your herd or flock while you wait for NDA or veterinary response. Do not move animals off the premises without explicit NDA authorization.
4. Document what you observe — Record the number of animals affected, species, age, clinical signs observed, date of onset, and any recent movements of the herd. This information will be requested by the NDA during the investigation.
5. Preserve any deceased animals — Do not dispose of carcasses before an NDA inspector or accredited veterinarian has had the opportunity to collect samples. NRS 571.200 governs the disposal of carcasses of diseased animals, and unauthorized disposal can complicate the investigation and create additional liability.
6. Submit diagnostic samples if directed — The NDA’s Animal Disease Laboratory accepts submissions from accredited veterinarians. Follow the NDA’s published shipping instructions for specimen packaging and transport to ensure sample integrity.

For VSV-related reporting, the NDA has issued health certificate requirements for horses, cattle, swine, sheep, and goats entering Nevada, and any livestock animal from a state where VSV has been diagnosed, or visiting an infected state and then returning to Nevada, must be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection noting them to be free of signs of VSV. If you are receiving animals from an affected state and observe VSV signs upon arrival, that constitutes an immediate reporting event.

You can also compare Nevada’s reporting process with how other states handle similar obligations. See our guides on livestock disease reporting in Florida, livestock disease reporting in Illinois, and livestock disease reporting in Michigan for side-by-side context.

Reporting Deadlines and Timeframes in Nevada

Nevada’s disease reporting framework uses a tiered timeframe structure based on the severity and contagiousness of the disease involved. The most dangerous conditions — those that could devastate the state’s livestock industry or pose a public health threat — require immediate reporting, while less urgent conditions allow a short window for confirmation before notification is required.

NRS 571.160 requires that the owner, agent, inspector, or veterinarian who has knowledge of an infected animal shall immediately notify the State Quarantine Officer. The word “immediately” is the operative standard for the most serious reportable conditions in Nevada, and it is not defined as a specific number of hours in the statute — meaning you should treat it as requiring same-day contact.

The general reporting tiers work as follows:

• Immediate (same day) — Emergency Diseases: Any disease not known to exist in the United States, any condition causing unusual or unexplained mass mortality, Foot-and-Mouth Disease, HPAI, African Swine Fever, Classical Swine Fever, Anthrax, and Rabies. If you suspect a highly contagious foreign or reportable disease such as foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever, or highly pathogenic avian influenza, you should phone the veterinary officer and the State Animal Health Official directly from the farm or premises.
• Within 24–48 hours — Serious Domestic Diseases: Brucellosis reactors identified through official testing, Trichomonosis positive test results, Equine Infectious Anemia, Vesicular Stomatitis Virus, and Bovine Tuberculosis suspects.
• Within the timeframe allotted after diagnosis — Monitored Conditions: Johne’s Disease, Anaplasmosis, Scrapie, and other conditions on the NDA’s monitored list. Any licensed veterinarian or veterinary diagnostic laboratory is responsible for reporting these disease conditions or suspicions of disease within the timeframe allotted after diagnosis.

For alternative livestock permit holders, the timeframe is unambiguous. The holder of a permit shall, immediately after discovering that any of the alternative livestock held under the authority of that permit has become infected with any disease, report the infection to the Department. There is no grace period for alternative livestock disease reports.

If you are also managing livestock transportation obligations alongside disease reporting, Nevada’s livestock trailer requirements intersect with disease control rules when animals are moved during or after an investigation — make sure you understand both sets of obligations.

What Happens After You Report in Nevada

Once you submit a report to the NDA, the agency activates a structured response protocol. The speed and scope of that response depends on the disease involved, but you should expect NDA involvement on your premises relatively quickly for any serious reportable condition.

The post-report process in Nevada typically follows these stages:

1. Initial Assessment and Contact: An NDA animal health official or the State Quarantine Officer will contact you to gather preliminary information about the number of animals affected, clinical signs observed, and recent animal movements.
2. On-Site Inspection: Under NRS 571.140 and NRS 571.150, the NDA has authority to conduct inspection, testing, treatment, quarantine, and condemnation of animals, and to inspect, test, or quarantine any animal infected with or exposed to disease. An NDA inspector or accredited federal veterinarian will visit your premises to assess the situation firsthand.
3. Hold Order or Quarantine: If the investigation supports a concern, the NDA will issue a formal hold order. When a reactor or suspect animal is identified through official testing or clinical observation, the NDA has authority to issue a hold order or quarantine notice that restricts all movement of animals on the affected premises, and this quarantine remains in effect until the investigation is complete and the NDA determines the appropriate course of action.
4. Diagnostic Testing: Samples will be collected and submitted to the NDA’s Animal Disease Laboratory or a USDA-approved laboratory for confirmation. All traceability data is used internally by the NDA to aid in disease investigations, and data is shared with USDA/APHIS Veterinary Services when requested.
5. Quarantine Duration: A quarantine remains effective until vacated by order of the State Quarantine Officer. You cannot lift a quarantine on your own — only the NDA can release it once the investigation concludes satisfactorily.
6. Herd Testing and Monitoring: For diseases like brucellosis, once brucellosis has been epidemiologically traced to a receiving or originating herd in Nevada, the Director will place that herd under a written hold order, and if the Director notifies the owner that their herd has been classified as an adjacent, originating, or receiving herd, the owner shall, within 30 days after notification, develop a written plan for observing and testing the herd.
7. Possible Destruction and Compensation: In severe cases, the NDA may order destruction of infected or exposed animals. The State Board of Agriculture shall enter into an agreement with USDA APHIS or take any other action required to determine the amount of compensation owed, if any, to the owner of any livestock destroyed.

Understanding how zoonotic diseases are managed post-report is especially important when the condition in question can transfer to humans. In those cases, the NDA may coordinate with the Nevada Division of Public Health and the CDC in addition to USDA APHIS.

Penalties for Failing to Report in Nevada

Nevada treats failures to comply with its livestock disease reporting and quarantine statutes as serious legal violations. The penalties available under NRS Chapter 571 range from civil fines to criminal prosecution, and the NDA has broad enforcement authority to pursue multiple types of action simultaneously.

Nevada treats brucellosis violations — and livestock disease violations generally — as serious offenses under its livestock disease control statutes. The penalties you face depend on the nature of the violation, whether it involves failure to report, movement of restricted animals, falsification of records, or obstruction of an official investigation. Under NRS Chapter 571, the NDA has authority to impose civil penalties, issue cease-and-desist orders, revoke livestock dealer licenses, and refer cases to the Nevada Attorney General for criminal prosecution in egregious situations.

The key penalty provisions under Nevada law include:

Failure to report is a misdemeanor and may be subject to administrative penalties. A misdemeanor conviction in Nevada can result in fines and, in some cases, jail time, in addition to the administrative consequences the NDA imposes independently of any criminal proceeding.

The consequences extend beyond your own operation. Any natural person or corporation purchasing any animal that was at the time of purchase under quarantine by any state, county, or municipal authorities, or who purchases any animal that due diligence and caution would have shown to be diseased or which was shipped or transported in violation of the rules and regulations of any agency of the Federal Government or the State of Nevada, is not entitled to receive compensation, and the Department may order the destruction of the animal without making any compensation to the owner.

The strongest protection against penalties is a simple one: report early, report accurately, and cooperate fully with NDA investigators. “Protecting our animal industry is our top priority,” NDA Director J.J. Goicoechea, DVM, has stated, emphasizing that monitoring for animal diseases and taking action to prevent impacts to animals and the agriculture industry is fundamental to the department’s mission. The NDA’s enforcement posture reflects that priority — but so does its willingness to work with producers who engage transparently from the start.

For further context on how livestock disease reporting obligations are structured in other states, see our guides on Florida, California, Illinois, and Michigan. If you manage poultry alongside other livestock, our resources on Newcastle Disease and diseases in birds can help you stay ahead of avian health concerns that fall under Nevada’s reporting framework.