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Official Identification (ID)


Important Notice: as of November 5, 2024 NUES tags are no longer official ID on Cattle. If you have questions visit the official USDA website for more information.

Cattle

  • Official eartags - used for ID on interstate certificates of veterinary inspection (ICVI's), test charts, change of ownership records, and brucellosis vaccination
  • Breed registration tattoos - used in South Dakota for ICVI's accompanied with a copy of the registration certificate, test charts (except TB), and change of ownership records
    • NOTE: Not all states recognize breed registry tattoos as official ID
  • Backtags - used on animals going directly to slaughter
  • Brands - used in South Dakota for ownership and seasonal grazing movements
  • Please see the USDA document on Federal Requirements for Cattle - for more information

Sheep and Goats

  • Scrapie tags - used for ID on interstate certificates of veterinary inspection (ICVI's), test charts and intrastate sales
    • Scrapie tagging records are kept by the sale barn, veterinarian, or the producer who applies the tags
  • 840/AIN tags - used for ICVI's and test charts
  • Breed registration tattoos - used for ICVI's and test charts
  • Please see the SDAIB Scrapie pamphlet and the USDA document on Federal Requirements for Sheep and Goats - for more information

Equine

  • Detailed physical description on an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection (ICVI) and/or Coggins test chart - including any brands or lip tattoos.
  • Digital photographs sufficient to identify the individual equine.
  • USDA approved microchips
    • Electronic identification that complies with ISO 11784/11785; or
    • Non-ISO electronic identification injected into the equine on or before February 26, 2014.
  • Please see the USDA document on Federal Requirements for Equine - for more information

Swine

  • Official eartags (NUES and 840/AIN tags) - used for ID on interstate certificates of veterinary inspection (ICVI's), test charts
  • Slap tattoos - used on feeder swine:
    • Herd tattoos used by producers to ID feeder swine
    • Market tattoos used by auction markets and collection stations to ID slaughter swine
  • Backtags - used on animals moving in slaughter channels
  • USDA premises tags
    • Used on adult animals moving in slaughter channels
    • USDA premises tags printed with a unique herd management number may be used as official ID on non-slaughter swine.
  • Breed registration tattoos - used on ICVI's, test charts
  • Please see the USDA document on Federal Requirements for Swine - for more information

Poultry

  • Producer participation in the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) allows poultry to move interstate through the production cycle as a group using VS Form 9-3
  • Leg Bands, group/lot ID - used on interstate certificates of veterinary inspection (ICVI's)
  • Please see the USDA document on Federal Requirements for Poultry - for more information

Captive Cervids

  • Official USDA tags (NUES and 840/AIN tags) - used on intrastate/interstate certificates of veterinary inspection (ICVI's), test charts, herd inventory records
  • Breed registration tattoos - used on interstate certificates of veterinary inspection (ICVI's), test charts, herd inventory records
  • Please see the USDA document on Federal Requirements for Cervids - for more information