A nationwide animal-identification plan has been sent to the White House for approval to strengthen tracking of cattle following the first confirmed case of mad cow disease in the U.S. in six years.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told reporters on Saturday that he was very confident the White House would approve the plan, which would allow authorities to quickly track the origin of an animal if it was found to be sick.

It will also allow experts to determine if the disease has spread to other livestock.