Digital Platform Brings Livestock Out of the Shadows
Using the Khorriot platform within the VetIS federal veterinary information system, veterinary inspectors from the Southern Interregional Directorate of Rosselkhoznadzor identified 237 unregistered livestock animals in the Republic of Adygea.
One of the most important challenges in modern livestock production is preventing the spread of infectious animal diseases while ensuring the quality and safety of agricultural products. To address these issues, Russia developed and deployed the VetIS federal state information system for veterinary oversight, together with its Khorriot and Merkuriy (Mercury) components.
These digital platforms automate livestock registration, monitoring, and veterinary procedures across the country. They make it possible to identify animals that have not yet been registered, assess their health status, and ensure that required vaccinations and veterinary interventions are carried out.
Digital Records for Every Animal
In four districts of the Republic of Adygea – Maykopsky, Krasnogvardeysky, Takhtamukaysky, and Teuchezhsky – veterinary inspectors from the Southern Interregional Directorate of Rosselkhoznadzor used Khorriot to identify discrepancies between officially registered livestock numbers and actual herd inventories. The investigation uncovered previously unregistered animals. A total of 197 cattle and 40 small ruminants were absent from the Khorriot database and had not been properly tagged. Livestock owners were instructed to correct the violations and comply with veterinary regulations.
In addition, analysis of digital records in Merkuriy revealed a more serious issue. Sixteen businesses in Adygea had purchased meat products derived from animals that were not registered in Khorriot. Company managers received official warnings regarding violations of mandatory veterinary requirements. Going forward, digital monitoring of livestock health and veterinary procedures makes it possible to track all required interventions throughout the production cycle.
Transparent Livestock Production
Khorriot was developed by the Federal Centre for Animal Health (FGBU VNIIZZh), an organization operating under Rosselkhoznadzor, specifically to support the registration and identification of farm animals. Its primary purpose is to monitor the quality of veterinary procedures and livestock products. Animal tagging is an integral part of the system and is recorded digitally. Information can be submitted through a web interface or via the VetIS.API interface, allowing integration with farm management software and regional veterinary information systems.
The platform entered pilot operation in October 2021, when voluntary registration of agricultural animals began. Beginning on March 1, 2023, however, all agricultural animals became subject to mandatory identification and registration requirements.
This digital framework allows authorities to monitor the movement of animals and animal-derived products, prevent the spread of infectious diseases, identify sources and transmission routes of pathogens, and rapidly detect and contain outbreaks. Merkuriy complements Khorriot by analyzing the movement of animal products throughout the supply chain, tracking them from producer to consumer.
"Artificial intelligence analyzes massive datasets and helps identify potential inconsistencies. Through digital platforms such as Merkuriy and Khorriot, specialists can see the entire production chain – from farm and field to the retail shelf," says Elena Lapina, head of Rosselkhoznadzor's directorate for the Tver and Yaroslavl regions, describing the advantages of these intelligent digital platforms.
Access Only to Verified Products
As a result, digital systems are making livestock production substantially more transparent. A precise digital registry of animal inventories allows regulators to keep unregistered products out of the market, strengthen disease surveillance, and reduce the risk of livestock disease outbreaks. The systems also help Rosselkhoznadzor specialists identify inconsistencies in traceability data and pinpoint businesses that may be violating regulatory requirements.
Federal state information systems are becoming effective tools for managing the sector, helping ensure that consumers have access only to verified, high-quality food products. Looking ahead, full digitalization of the agricultural sector could allow government support programs to target only compliant producers, provide a complete and reliable picture of production trends, and support more targeted investment decisions in priority segments of agriculture.
Production transparency and end-to-end digital traceability make it easier to export Russian agricultural products and strengthen confidence among international buyers. Over time, the sector's digital-development technologies and the IT architecture behind these control systems could also be offered to producers in CIS and Eurasian Economic Union countries seeking stronger veterinary safeguards and comprehensive livestock monitoring.
