Animal industry brief: traceability successes, new screw‑worm plan and request for brand inspection funding

John Keller, division director for the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food’s Animal Industry Division, told the appropriations subcommittee that the division met its performance target for animal trace completion (100% within one hour across eight traces) and has strengthened preparedness against foreign and domestic diseases.

Keller and state veterinarian Dr. Amanda Price described a new 28‑page annex to the Utah emergency animal disease response plan tailored to the new world screw worm, outlining interagency communications, field response roles and public messaging. Keller listed current disease threats the division monitors, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), brucella ovis, chronic wasting disease (CWD), equine herpesvirus, West Nile virus and whirling disease.

Keller said the brand inspection program — primarily funded by brand and anti‑theft account fees — has seen a ~27% rise in expenses driven by personnel, vehicles and travel. To address operational shortfalls he asked the legislature for $300,000 in supplemental funding for FY2026 and $300,000 ongoing from the restricted account to the animal industry line item.

During questions, members pressed staff on CWD trends: panelists reported ‘just over 60’ domestic cases in the last two years and said about 11 of 26 domestic facilities were under quarantine at the time of the briefing. Staff described changes since 2020 intended to reduce economic disruption — moving away from mass depopulation toward surveillance, quarantines and live‑animal rectal biopsy testing.

Keller said preparedness investments protect producers, consumers and the state economy and welcomed follow‑up on traceability procedures and quarantine status updates.