Alabama’s livestock industry is one of the state’s most economically significant sectors, and protecting it from the spread of infectious disease depends on a fast, accurate reporting system. Whether you raise cattle, swine, poultry, or any other species, knowing when and how to report a suspected disease is not optional — it is a legal obligation backed by state statute and federal oversight.
This guide walks you through every stage of the livestock disease reporting process in Alabama: which diseases are covered, who is responsible for reporting, what symptoms should trigger a call, how to file a report, the timeframes involved, what investigators do after a report is filed, and the penalties for failing to comply.
Reportable Livestock Diseases in Alabama
Alabama’s reportable disease framework operates on two parallel tracks: state-level requirements administered by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) and federal requirements administered by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Both layers apply to producers and veterinarians operating in the state.
At the state level, all persons practicing veterinary medicine in the State of Alabama shall report in writing to the State Veterinarian the existence of any contagious, infectious, or communicable disease listed in the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Handbook as reportable. The full official list is maintained in that handbook and updated by the State Veterinarian as conditions change…