If you raise cattle, swine, poultry, sheep, goats, or any other livestock in Arkansas, understanding disease reporting obligations is not optional — it is a legal requirement that protects your operation, your neighbors, and the state’s agricultural economy.
Arkansas is a national leader in livestock and poultry production, and the state’s reporting framework exists to catch dangerous diseases early before they spread across herds, flocks, and state lines. This guide walks you through every step of the process, from knowing which diseases trigger a report to understanding the consequences of failing to act.
Key Insight: Arkansas livestock disease reporting is governed by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Division and enforced through the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission. Both state and federal reporting obligations may apply simultaneously.
Reportable Livestock Diseases in Arkansas
Arkansas maintains its own official list of reportable diseases for livestock and poultry, separate from — but aligned with — federal requirements. The Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission publishes a dedicated Reportable Diseases regulation, alongside specific rules covering tuberculosis, scrapie, trichomoniasis, and the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP).
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Division works to protect both animal and human health by preventing, controlling, and responding to zoonotic and other communicable animal diseases that pose a risk to Arkansas’s livestock, poultry, and food supply. The reportable disease list reflects that dual mission…