Livestock Disease Reporting in South Dakota: Rules, Requirements, and What to Expect

If you raise livestock in South Dakota, knowing when and how to report a disease is not optional — it is a legal obligation that protects your herd, your neighbors’ animals, and the state’s agricultural economy. South Dakota’s livestock industry spans cattle, swine, poultry, sheep, horses, and more, and a single unreported outbreak can spread across county lines before anyone has a chance to respond.

This guide walks you through every aspect of livestock disease reporting in South Dakota: which diseases trigger a mandatory report, who must file one, what symptoms to watch for, how to contact the right authorities, and what happens if you fail to act. Whether you are a first-time producer or a seasoned rancher, understanding these rules keeps you compliant and your operation protected.

Reportable Livestock Diseases in South Dakota

South Dakota maintains a formal list of reportable animal diseases administered by the South Dakota Animal Industry Board (SDAIB). The South Dakota Animal Industry Board is the primary regulatory body overseeing livestock health and movement in the state. The SDAIB publishes its official Reportable Disease List, and any disease on that list must be reported to the state veterinarian’s office as soon as it is suspected or confirmed.

The reportable disease list covers a broad range of conditions across multiple livestock species. Key diseases that South Dakota producers and veterinarians must be prepared to report include:

• Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) — a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals including cattle, swine, sheep, and goats
• Brucellosis — a bacterial disease primarily affecting cattle, bison, and swine with significant public health implications
• Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) — a chronic bacterial disease affecting cattle and other mammals, including humans
• Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) — a severe and rapidly fatal respiratory disease in poultry
• Classical Swine Fever (Hog Cholera) — a highly contagious viral disease of pigs
• African Swine Fever (ASF) — a foreign animal disease with no approved vaccine in the U.S.
• Scrapie — a fatal prion disease of sheep and goats
• Pseudorabies (Aujeszky’s Disease) — a viral disease primarily affecting swine
• Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) — a viral disease of horses and other equids
• Vesicular Stomatitis — a viral disease causing blister-like lesions in cattle, horses, and swine
• Anthrax — a bacterial disease that can affect all warm-blooded animals and is a public health concern
• Rabies — a fatal viral disease affecting all mammals
• Johne’s Disease (Paratuberculosis) — a chronic wasting disease in ruminants
• Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) — a prion disease in cervids including deer and elk
• Newcastle Disease (virulent strain) — a serious respiratory and neurological disease in poultry; learn more about Newcastle disease and how it affects bird populations
• Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Type 2 (RHDV2) — a highly contagious and fatal disease of domestic and wild rabbits

The SDAIB maintains an adequate surveillance system for disease by testing blood and tissue samples for Brucellosis and Tuberculosis from cattle and swine slaughtered, testing swine for Pseudorabies, and inspecting and testing for emerging diseases, emergency diseases, and eradicated diseases.

Beyond the standard list, foreign and transboundary animal diseases — those not normally present in the United States — are always subject to immediate reporting regardless of whether they appear on the current state list. Suspected foreign animal diseases should be immediately reported to your veterinarian or an animal health official. Diseases like bovine diseases that cross species lines or carry zoonotic potential receive heightened attention from state and federal regulators alike.

Who Is Required to Report a Livestock Disease in South Dakota

South Dakota law casts a wide net when it comes to reporting obligations. You do not need to be a licensed veterinarian or a large commercial producer to be legally required to make a report. Any person who discovers, suspects, or has reason to believe that any animal is affected with, or has been exposed to, any contagious, infectious, epidemic, or communicable disease, shall promptly report to the Animal Industry Board.

In practical terms, this means the following parties all carry a reporting obligation under South Dakota law:

• Livestock owners and producers — cattle ranchers, hog farmers, sheep and goat producers, poultry growers, and any other person who owns or manages livestock
• Licensed veterinarians — both private practitioners and those working for agricultural businesses
• Livestock dealers and auction market operators — anyone who handles, buys, or sells livestock through regulated channels
• Livestock transporters — truckers or haulers who observe signs of illness in animals during transport
• Farm employees and caretakers — hired hands, farm managers, and anyone directly responsible for animal care
• Diagnostic laboratory personnel — labs that identify or suspect a reportable pathogen in a submitted sample

The SDAIB enforces disease reporting requirements, manages animal import and export rules, and maintains records related to herd health. Any goat owner in South Dakota — whether operating commercially or keeping a small backyard herd — falls under the board’s jurisdiction for health-related matters. The same principle extends to owners of cattle, swine, poultry, horses, and all other regulated livestock species.

Poultry owners carry a specific statutory obligation as well. Owners are legally required to report any signs of high-pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) or other reportable diseases to the State Veterinarian under § 40-5-8. This obligation applies to backyard flock owners and commercial poultry operations alike. For context on the broader range of conditions that can affect birds, see this overview of diseases in pet birds and how quickly respiratory illness can spread through a flock.

Signs and Symptoms That Trigger a Report in South Dakota

You do not need a confirmed laboratory diagnosis to be required to report. Under South Dakota law, suspicion alone is sufficient. If you observe signs that are consistent with a reportable disease — or that are simply unusual and unexplained — you are expected to contact the SDAIB without waiting for test results.

The following clinical signs in livestock should prompt you to make a report immediately:

Report all unusual mass morbidity (sickness) or mortality (death) events to the State Veterinarian’s Office at 605-773-3321. The key phrase here is “unusual” — if you are seeing a pattern of illness or death that does not fit normal seasonal or management-related causes, that is a trigger to call.

Many reportable diseases are also zoonotic diseases, meaning they can spread from animals to humans. Brucellosis, rabies, anthrax, and bovine tuberculosis all carry human health risks, which is why the reporting framework is enforced so rigorously. If you work closely with sick animals and begin experiencing flu-like symptoms yourself, seek medical attention and mention your livestock exposure.

How to Report a Livestock Disease in South Dakota

Reporting a suspected livestock disease in South Dakota is a straightforward process, and the SDAIB has made multiple contact channels available so you can reach the right people quickly. The South Dakota Animal Industry Board oversees animal disease traceability in South Dakota and works daily to maintain and advance the accuracy and efficiency of all animal health information systems involved in traceability.

Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how to file a report:

1. Call the SDAIB State Veterinarian’s Office directly. The South Dakota Animal Industry Board is located at 411 South Fort Street, Pierre, SD 57501. The main phone number is 605-773-3321, and the fax number is 605-773-5459. This is your primary contact for all reportable disease reports.
2. Contact USDA APHIS Veterinary Services if a foreign animal disease is suspected. Call the Animal Industry Board at (605) 773-3321 or USDA, APHIS, Veterinary Services at (605) 224-6186. Foreign animal diseases require coordination between state and federal officials.
3. Notify your private veterinarian. Your accredited veterinarian can help you assess the clinical situation, collect samples for diagnostic testing, and assist with the official reporting process. There are several foreign animal disease diagnosticians (FADDs) located throughout South Dakota that are readily available to investigate suspected FAD cases. The FADDs are state or federal regulatory veterinarians with specialized training in investigating, sample collection, and diagnosing these diseases.
4. Use the SDAIB online reporting form. For non-emergency reports, the SDAIB provides an online form at aib.sd.gov/diseaseinvestigation.html. You will need to complete all required fields to initiate the process.
5. Be prepared to provide key information. When you call or submit a form, have the following ready: your name and contact information, your premises identification number (if registered), the species affected, the number of sick or dead animals, the clinical signs observed, how long the animals have been showing symptoms, and any recent movement of animals onto or off your property.

If you are reporting a disease in poultry, the SDAIB’s poultry health program handles those reports under ARSD 12:05. For livestock disease reporting in other states, you can review how comparable frameworks work in Florida, California, Colorado, Illinois, and Michigan to understand how South Dakota’s requirements compare regionally.

Reporting Deadlines and Timeframes in South Dakota

South Dakota law uses the word “promptly” to describe when a report must be made, and that standard is interpreted strictly for diseases with epidemic potential. The practical expectation from the SDAIB is that reports involving serious or highly contagious diseases are made the same day the condition is suspected — not after the weekend, not after the next scheduled veterinary visit.

The general framework for reporting timeframes works as follows:

• Immediate (same-day) reporting: Required for any suspected foreign animal disease, any disease with significant herd or flock mortality, and any disease with known zoonotic potential. This includes Foot-and-Mouth Disease, African Swine Fever, HPAI, anthrax, and rabies.
• Prompt reporting (within 24 hours): Expected for diseases on the standard reportable list when clinical signs are present but the situation is not yet characterized as a mass mortality event. Examples include suspected Brucellosis, Bovine TB, or Equine Infectious Anemia.
• Laboratory-confirmed reporting: Even after initial notification, laboratories that confirm a reportable pathogen are required to report their findings to the SDAIB. Maintenance of an efficient, reliable system of animal disease traceability is essential to decrease negative effects and to preserve animal health when a disease outbreak occurs in an area.

For interstate movement, separate timeframe requirements apply to health documentation. The federal traceability rule requires that all issued Interstate Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (ICVIs) be forwarded to the state office in Pierre within 7 calendar days of the date of issue. This is distinct from disease reporting but is part of the broader animal health tracking system that makes rapid outbreak response possible.

Effective traceability can limit the number of animal owners impacted by an outbreak and reduce the economic impact to herd owners and affected communities, as well as the livestock industry as a whole. Meeting reporting deadlines is the first step in making that traceability system work.

What Happens After You Report in South Dakota

Filing a report with the SDAIB sets a formal response process in motion. You should expect contact from state or federal animal health officials relatively quickly, especially if the suspected disease carries significant risk. Here is what typically follows a report:

1. Initial assessment by the SDAIB. After receiving your report, the state veterinarian’s office evaluates the information to determine the level of urgency and which response protocols apply.
2. Assignment of a field investigator or FADD. An investigation is initiated when the state veterinarian receives a report of animals with symptoms indicative of a foreign animal disease or when a diagnostic laboratory identifies a suspicious test result. The state veterinarian assigns a FADD to investigate the case immediately.
3. On-site investigation and sample collection. A state or federal veterinarian will visit your premises to conduct a physical examination of affected animals, collect blood, tissue, or swab samples for laboratory analysis, and document the clinical findings. You are expected to cooperate fully and provide access to your animals and records.
4. Quarantine or movement restrictions, if warranted. If the investigation raises serious concern, the SDAIB has authority to place a hold on animal movement from your premises. Should a foreign animal disease be identified in South Dakota, the Animal Health Emergency response plan would be initiated. Movement restrictions protect neighboring operations during the diagnostic period.
5. Laboratory testing and results. Samples are submitted to the South Dakota Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (ADRDL) at SDSU or to USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) for confirmatory testing. Turnaround time varies by disease and test type.
6. Outcome and follow-up. If the disease is confirmed, the SDAIB works with you and federal partners on a control or eradication plan. The board may keep such reports confidential, except for those reports concerning diseases that are specifically regulated for mandatory control and eradication to protect the public health, other livestock, or wildlife. If the investigation rules out a reportable disease, restrictions are lifted and you will be notified of the findings.

Throughout this process, maintaining good records of your herd’s health history, vaccination records, and recent animal movements will help investigators work more efficiently. If you operate a cattle operation, familiarizing yourself with common bovine health conditions helps you give investigators accurate clinical histories from the start.

Penalties for Failing to Report in South Dakota

South Dakota takes non-compliance with disease reporting requirements seriously. Failing to report a suspected reportable disease — whether intentionally or through negligence — exposes you to legal and financial consequences that can be far more damaging than the disease itself.

The penalty framework under South Dakota law includes the following:

• Criminal misdemeanor charges: Violations of South Dakota’s animal disease reporting statutes under Title 40 can result in misdemeanor charges. South Dakota classifies misdemeanors on a tiered basis, and animal health violations may be prosecuted as Class 1 or Class 2 misdemeanors depending on the circumstances and severity of the non-compliance.
• Civil penalties: The SDAIB has authority to pursue civil enforcement actions against producers, veterinarians, or other parties who fail to meet their reporting obligations. Civil penalties can accumulate on a per-day basis for ongoing violations.
• Loss of livestock movement privileges: Non-compliant operations may have their ability to move animals intrastate or interstate suspended until the SDAIB is satisfied that proper disease controls are in place.
• Ineligibility for federal indemnity programs: If a reportable disease is eventually confirmed after a delayed report, producers who failed to notify authorities promptly may be disqualified from federal indemnity payments that would otherwise compensate for depopulated animals.
• Increased liability for disease spread: If your failure to report results in the spread of a disease to neighboring operations, you may face civil liability claims from affected producers for economic damages.

Non-compliance is a cause of gaps in traceability and results in incomplete records or a total lack of essential animal health data. Beyond the individual penalties, non-reporting undermines the statewide disease surveillance system that every South Dakota producer depends on. Outreach and education are needed to inform all stakeholders of the importance of their contribution to that system — and the SDAIB actively works to keep producers informed of their obligations.

If you are concerned about confidentiality, note that South Dakota law does provide some protection. The board may keep such reports confidential, except for those reports concerning diseases that are specifically regulated for mandatory control and eradication to protect the public health, other livestock, or wildlife. This means that for many routine reports, your identity as the reporting party is not publicly disclosed.

For producers who also keep companion animals on their property, it is worth knowing that some diseases affecting livestock can also affect dogs and cats. Conditions like tick-borne diseases circulate in the same environments as livestock and wildlife, and South Dakota’s diverse wildlife population — including the bat species found in South Dakota — can serve as disease reservoirs that interact with your livestock operation. Staying informed about disease risks across all the animals on your property is part of responsible farm biosecurity.

Ultimately, the South Dakota disease reporting system works only when every participant in the livestock industry does their part. Prompt, accurate reporting is the single most effective tool available for stopping an outbreak before it becomes a regional crisis — and it is the law.