Livestock Disease Reporting in Pennsylvania: Rules Every Producer Must Know

Pennsylvania is one of the nation’s leading agricultural states, and protecting its livestock and poultry industries from dangerous disease outbreaks is a legal obligation — not just a best practice. If you raise cattle, swine, poultry, horses, sheep, goats, or any other domestic animal in the Commonwealth, understanding your disease reporting duties can mean the difference between a contained incident and a devastating herd-wide outbreak.

This guide walks you through every aspect of livestock disease reporting in Pennsylvania: which diseases trigger a mandatory report, who bears that legal responsibility, what clinical signs should prompt action, how and where to submit a report, the deadlines you must meet, what state officials do after you call, and the consequences of staying silent when you should not.

Reportable Livestock Diseases in Pennsylvania

The following infectious diseases of domestic animals are reportable in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania law classifies these conditions as “dangerous transmissible diseases,” a term that carries specific legal weight under Title 3 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.

Specific dangerous transmissible diseases enumerated under Pennsylvania law include Actinomycosis, an infectious disease of cattle and man caused by Actinomyces bovis. The statutory list continues with dozens of additional conditions spanning cattle, swine, equine, poultry, sheep, and other species.

In addition to diseases, hazardous substance contamination is also reportable: when any food-producing animal or animal that could be rendered for animal feed is diagnosed with contamination or potential contamination with a hazardous substance, it must be reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA).

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture also has authority to issue a temporary order proclaiming a transmissible disease to be a dangerous transmissible disease if it determines the disease presents a danger to public health, domestic animal health, the safety or quality of the food supply, or the economic well-being of the domestic animal industries. This means the official list can expand quickly when new threats emerge.

If you raise or work with poultry, it is also worth reviewing resources on Newcastle disease and common bird diseases, both of which involve species covered under Pennsylvania’s reporting framework. Cattle producers should also familiarize themselves with bovine disease fundamentals and the concept of zoonotic disease, since several reportable conditions in Pennsylvania can transfer to humans.

Who Is Required to Report a Livestock Disease in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s reporting obligation is broad by design. The state does not limit the duty to report to a single profession — multiple categories of individuals carry legal responsibility under the Domestic Animal Law and related regulations.

• Licensed veterinarians — Any veterinarian practicing in Pennsylvania who diagnoses, suspects, or observes signs consistent with a reportable disease in any domestic animal is obligated to notify the PDA.
• Accredited veterinarians — An accredited veterinarian is a licensed veterinarian jointly accredited by APHIS-USDA and the Department in the state the veterinarian is licensed to perform official duties on behalf of APHIS-USDA or the Department. These individuals carry heightened responsibilities under both state and federal reporting frameworks.
• Livestock owners and producers — Farmers, ranchers, and any person who owns or manages domestic animals in Pennsylvania must report if they know or have reasonable cause to suspect a reportable disease is present in their herd or flock.
• Livestock dealers and market operators — BAHDS maintains a list of licensed livestock markets within Pennsylvania and frequently inspects these entities. Operators of licensed markets are expected to report disease suspicions that arise during sales or holding periods.
• Diagnostic laboratory personnel — Laboratory staff who identify or suspect a reportable pathogen in a submitted specimen from a domestic animal are required to notify state animal health officials.
• Animal health professionals — An animal health professional is an individual, corporate entity, or animal health organization with formal training in the diagnosis or recognition of animal diseases or pests of livestock. Examples include veterinary medical professionals, diagnostic laboratorians, biomedical researchers, public health officials, animal health officials, trained technicians, zoo personnel, and wildlife personnel with such training.

The Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services (BAHDS) is responsible for controlling and eradicating diseases in livestock and poultry, a mission that is critical since these diseases have the potential to impact human health and cause significant economic loss to farmers and the Commonwealth. Everyone in the livestock production chain shares a stake in keeping that mission effective.

Producers in other states can compare Pennsylvania’s approach to reporting obligations in Florida, California, Colorado, and Michigan to understand how state frameworks differ.

Signs and Symptoms That Trigger a Report in Pennsylvania

You do not need a confirmed laboratory diagnosis to file a report in Pennsylvania. The legal standard is suspicion — if clinical signs are consistent with a reportable disease, you must act. Waiting for lab confirmation before calling can delay containment and expose you to penalties.

The following categories of clinical signs should immediately prompt you to contact a veterinarian and notify BAHDS:

Neurological Signs

Sudden behavioral changes, circling, incoordination, seizures, or progressive paralysis in cattle, horses, or small ruminants may indicate conditions such as rabies, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or equine encephalitis — all of which are reportable. Any unexplained neurological presentation in a food-producing animal warrants immediate professional evaluation.

Respiratory Signs

Rapid onset of severe respiratory distress, nasal discharge, coughing, or high fever across multiple animals in a flock or herd can indicate avian influenza, chronic respiratory disease of poultry, or contagious pleuropneumonia. Avian influenza is an infectious disease of poultry caused by Type A influenza virus and is among the most economically significant reportable diseases in Pennsylvania’s poultry sector.

Reproductive Failure and Abortions

Unexplained abortions, stillbirths, or reproductive failure — especially when occurring in multiple animals within a short period — can signal brucellosis or other reportable reproductive diseases. Brucellosis is an infectious disease of animals and man caused by Brucella abortus, Brucella suis, Brucella melitensis, or Brucella ovis. Because brucellosis is also transmissible to humans, prompt reporting is critical for public health as well as herd health.

Vesicular or Skin Lesions

Blisters, ulcers, or erosions on the mouth, feet, teats, or snout of cattle and swine are classic signs of foreign animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease. Even if you believe the cause is benign, vesicular disease in cloven-hoofed animals must be reported without delay.

Sudden or Unexplained Death

Multiple sudden deaths in a herd or flock — particularly when accompanied by bloody discharge, swelling, or rapid decomposition — can indicate anthrax. Anthrax is an infectious disease of animals and man caused by Bacillus anthracis. Do not move carcasses or disturb the area before contacting BAHDS, as this can spread spores.

Hazardous Substance Exposure

When any food-producing animal or animal that could be rendered for animal feed is diagnosed with contamination or potential contamination with a hazardous substance, it must be reported to the PDA. This includes exposure to pesticides, heavy metals, and other environmental contaminants that could compromise the food supply.

How to Report a Livestock Disease in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has established clear channels for disease reporting, and using the correct one ensures your report reaches the right officials as quickly as possible.

Primary Reporting Contact

If you suspect any of the diseases on the reportable list as a possible diagnosis, call your PDA Regional Veterinarian or the main office of the Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services (BAHDS) at 717.772.2852. This is the single most important number to have posted in your barn or office.

You can also reach BAHDS by email at RA-ahds@pa.gov for non-emergency inquiries, though phone contact is strongly preferred for active disease suspicions where time is critical.

The PADLS Laboratory Network

Pennsylvania is home to a tri-partite animal health laboratory system called the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System, or PADLS. PADLS connects the Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory (PVL) in Harrisburg, Penn State University’s Animal Diagnostic Laboratory (ADL), and the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s New Bolton Center to provide laboratory testing, field-based monitoring, and producer outreach, all with a focus on protecting citizens, the food supply, and the animal agriculture industry.

Submitting specimens through PADLS is often the fastest route to a confirmed diagnosis. Your veterinarian can assist with proper specimen collection and submission protocols. Reporting a disease suspicion and submitting specimens for laboratory testing are complementary steps — do both simultaneously rather than waiting for lab results before calling BAHDS.

Federal Coordination

Reporting under the National List of Reportable Animal Diseases (NLRAD) does not supersede state requirements or notification processes. All animal health professionals, including accredited veterinarians, should coordinate with their State animal health official and area veterinarian in charge to ensure confirmed cases of NLRAD-listed diseases are reported in accordance with NLRAD System Standards. In practice, this means a single disease event may require both a state report to BAHDS and a federal report through USDA APHIS channels — your BAHDS regional veterinarian can guide you through both.

If you transport livestock within or into Pennsylvania, be aware that Pennsylvania livestock trailer requirements and disease reporting obligations often intersect, particularly when animals show signs of illness during transit. Also see how Illinois handles livestock disease reporting for a neighboring-state comparison.

Reporting Deadlines and Timeframes in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s disease reporting framework distinguishes between different urgency levels, and the timeframe you must meet depends on the disease category involved.

Immediate Reporting — Foreign Animal Diseases and Emergencies

For any disease that is exotic to the United States or that poses an acute threat of rapid spread — such as foot-and-mouth disease, African swine fever, or highly pathogenic avian influenza — reporting must occur without delay. In practice, this means calling BAHDS the same day you observe suspicious signs. Maintaining a healthy animal agriculture industry is a key step to ensuring Pennsylvania’s trade status with other states and nations is not negatively impacted by an outbreak within its borders. The speed of your initial call directly affects the state’s ability to protect that trade status.

Federal Notifiable Disease Deadlines

For diseases that appear on both the Pennsylvania state list and the federal National List of Reportable Animal Diseases, federal standards also apply. Per the NLRAD System Standards, notifiable diseases or conditions must be reported within 24 hours, while monitored diseases or conditions must be reported within 30 days. Pennsylvania state obligations for the most dangerous conditions align with the 24-hour federal standard.

Hazardous Substance Contamination

When a food-producing animal is diagnosed with or suspected of hazardous substance contamination, reporting to PDA should occur as soon as the contamination is identified or reasonably suspected. Delays in reporting contamination events carry food safety implications that extend well beyond the individual farm.

What Happens After You Report in Pennsylvania

Filing a report sets a structured state response in motion. Understanding what comes next helps you prepare your operation and cooperate effectively with investigators.

Initial Assessment and Field Investigation

After you contact BAHDS or your PDA Regional Veterinarian, a state animal health official will typically conduct a field investigation. This involves visiting your premises, evaluating sick or dead animals, reviewing herd records, and collecting specimens for laboratory confirmation. BAHDS administers regulatory programs for animal health certification, containment of diseased animals, and elimination of disease agents. The field investigation is the first step in all three of those functions.

Laboratory Testing Through PADLS

Specimens collected during the field investigation are submitted to the PADLS network for analysis. PADLS connects the Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory (PVL) in Harrisburg, Penn State University’s Animal Diagnostic Laboratory (ADL), and the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s New Bolton Center to provide laboratory testing, field-based monitoring, and producer outreach. Turnaround times vary by disease and test type, but BAHDS will keep you informed of preliminary findings.

Quarantine and Movement Restrictions

If a dangerous transmissible disease is confirmed or strongly suspected, the PDA has authority to impose a quarantine on your premises. Cattle, goats, and bison affected with or exposed to diseases or disease agents determined by the Department to be dangerous and transmissible or hazardous to animal or human health shall, when transported within the Commonwealth, be accompanied by a permit issued by the Department. During an active investigation, movement of animals on or off your property will require explicit authorization from BAHDS.

Notification of the Department of Health

The Department of Agriculture shall inform the Department of Health of the outbreak of a domestic animal disease when that disease has implications for human health. This interagency coordination is especially important for zoonotic diseases such as brucellosis, anthrax, and rabies, where human exposure tracking may be necessary alongside the animal health response.

Indemnification and Financial Assistance

Pennsylvania law provides for appraisal and indemnity for animals that must be depopulated as part of a disease control program. The Pennsylvania Code’s Chapter 8 under Title 7 specifically addresses appraisal and indemnity for diseased animals. If your animals are ordered destroyed by the state, you may be eligible for compensation — ask your BAHDS regional veterinarian about the indemnification process at the time of the investigation.

Federal Coordination and Trade Implications

Monthly reporting by State Animal Health Officials and laboratories feeds into the USDA APHIS National Animal Health Reporting System, which uses the gathered data to monitor changes in disease occurrence over time. A confirmed case in Pennsylvania can trigger federal-level response coordination and, for foreign animal diseases, may affect interstate and international trade in Pennsylvania livestock and livestock products.

Penalties for Failing to Report in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania takes non-compliance with disease reporting obligations seriously. Failing to report a known or suspected reportable disease is not treated as a minor administrative oversight — it is a violation of the Domestic Animal Law with real legal and financial consequences.

Civil Penalties

Entities failing to comply are subject to enforcement and penalties as allowed under the provisions of Pennsylvania’s Domestic Animal Law, including revocation of license, criminal prosecution, and/or civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation. Each failure to report can constitute a separate violation, meaning that if you observe a disease condition on multiple occasions without reporting, penalties can accumulate rapidly.

License Revocation

For licensed operations — including livestock dealers, auction markets, and veterinary practices — failure to report a reportable disease can result in the revocation of your operating license. This consequence is particularly severe for commercial operations that depend on their license to conduct business.

Criminal Prosecution

In cases involving willful concealment of a reportable disease — particularly where the failure to report contributed to disease spread — criminal prosecution is a possibility under Pennsylvania law. While criminal charges are reserved for the most egregious violations, the statutory authority for them exists and has been invoked in animal health enforcement contexts.

Injunctive Relief

The Commonwealth may seek a court injunction to compel compliance or to prevent the movement of animals from a premises where a reportable disease is suspected but has not been reported. An injunction can effectively shut down animal movement on your operation until the legal matter is resolved.

Indirect Consequences

Beyond formal legal penalties, failing to report a livestock disease in Pennsylvania can carry significant indirect consequences:

• Loss of indemnification eligibility — Producers who failed to report may be disqualified from state or federal compensation programs when animals must be depopulated.
• Herd-wide losses — Delayed reporting allows disease to spread within your herd or flock, compounding your own financial losses far beyond what early intervention would have caused.
• Neighbor and community liability — If your unreported disease spreads to neighboring farms, you may face civil liability from other producers who suffered losses as a result.
• Reputational damage — In tight-knit agricultural communities, a producer known for concealing disease faces lasting damage to business relationships and market access.

Understanding how disease reporting intersects with broader animal health responsibilities can help you stay compliant and protect your operation. Producers may also find it useful to review resources on Florida livestock disease reporting and California livestock disease reporting to understand how Pennsylvania’s penalty structure compares to other major agricultural states.

Timely, accurate disease reporting is ultimately an act of stewardship — for your animals, your neighbors, and Pennsylvania’s agricultural economy. The work performed by BAHDS is essential to protecting U.S. livestock and poultry industries from foreign animal diseases, which in turn protects the food supply and citizens. Maintaining a healthy animal agriculture industry is also a key step to ensuring Pennsylvania’s trade status with other states and nations is not negatively impacted by an outbreak within its borders. Every producer who reports promptly contributes to that protection.