Animal Health

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The North Dakota Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Division protects the health of domestic animals and non-traditional livestock, and administers all rules and orders of the State Board of Animal Health.

The division monitors and regulates animal imports and exports, and traces animal movement; issues and maintains records of official USDA tags and state certificates of veterinary inspection; conducts disease testing on animals and assists local authorities with inhumane treatment complaints, inspects auction markets and approves veterinarians to provide market service, and registers feedlots and licenses rendering facilities and dealers of modified life vaccines.

The division trains and coordinates a Reserve Veterinary Corps to assist in emergency situations; and participates in animal emergency preparedness and response on state, regional and national levels; and conducts avian influenza testing, Johne’s disease control program and the National Scrapie Eradication program.

History of the Board of Animal Health

The North Dakota Livestock Sanitary Board was created in 1907 as an independent agency. In 1989, the Livestock Sanitary Board became the North Dakota State Board of Animal Health and in 1995, the Board's staff became part of the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. Currently, the Board's staff makes up the Animal Health Division of the Department. The staff includes the State Veterinarian, Deputy State Veterinarian, Assistant State Veterinarian, Administrative Assistant, two Office Assistants, and a Livestock Field Investigator.

The State Board of Animal Health consists of nine members representing the various sectors of the livestock industry who are appointed by the governor for terms of seven years. Members may serve up to two terms. The statutory purpose of the Board is to protect the health of the domestic animals and nontraditional livestock of North Dakota. The Board may take necessary action to control, suppress, and eradicate any and all contagious and infectious diseases among any of the domestic animals and nontraditional livestock of the state. Most legal responsibility for animal health lies with the Board. The State Veterinarian is appointed by the Agriculture Commissioner with the consent of the Board. The State Veterinarian serves as the executive director of the Board and, therefore, must execute all orders and rules made by the board.