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Home > Animal Movement > Official ID > Official ID Tags

Official Identification (ID) Tags



840 tag or Animal Identification Number (AIN)

  • 15-digit number; first three numbers are the 840 USA code. Tags may be placed in USA-born animals only.
  • Available for purchase from livestock supply distributors and tag manufacturers – national premises ID number required.
  • Orange 840/AIN tags are available to accredited veterinarians for official calfhood brucellosis vaccination
  • Limited numbers of tags may be available for use in replacement cattle through USDA at no cost to veterinarians
  • USDA Approved Official Animal Identification Number (AIN) Devices With The “840” Prefix

National Uniform Eartagging System (NUES) tags (To be phased out)

  • Brucellosis vaccination tags - orange tags used only on official calfhood vaccinates for brucellosis
  • Silver tags for program disease testing, interstate movement, change of ownership
  • Used/distributed by accredited veterinarians
  • Producers may apply silver NUES tags to their own cattle or bison for official identification purposes

Non-840 official identification RFID tag for cattle that originate outside of the USA

  • 15-digit numbered tag colored lime green and blue. “IMP” for import is printed by US Shield
  • Should only be used only to identify imported cattle and bison that have lost their country’s official ID and need official identification
  • Available by contacting the SD Animal Industry Board
  • USDA APHIS information on the non-840 official tags

900 series tag or manufacturer tag - (To be phased out)

  • RFID 15-digit tag
  • Available for purchase from livestock supply distributors
  • Are currently considered an official tag for identification purposes for interstate movement only if previously placed on an animal on or before March 11, 2015
  • 900 series numbers are NOT recognized as official identification when applied to livestock on or after March 11, 2015

Scrapie tags for Sheep and Goats

  • Required for intrastate sale, show, and interstate movement of certain sheep and goats.
  • Please see Sheep & Goat ID Requirements or contact the SDAIB (605) 773-3321 for specific tagging requirements.
  • Limited number of scrapie tags available at no charge from the South Dakota USDA office (605.224.6186)
  • Custom numbered scrapie tags available for purchase from livestock supply distributors

Swine Premises Tag

  • Plastic tag for cull sows and boars
  • Available for purchase from livestock supply distributors - national premises ID number required

Backtags

  • Applied to animals sold directly to slaughter
  • Applied by livestock markets and slaughter facilities

Not sure if a tag is "official"? Look for the official eartag shield:

REMEMBER: removal of official ID is forbidden by law unless expressly authorized by regulatory authorities. If there is a problem with a certain official tag on an animal, please contact the SDAIB (605) 773-3321.