Official ID

TYPES OF OFFICIAL IDENTIFICATION TAGS

National Uniform Eartagging System (NUES) metal USDA tags

• Brucellosis vaccination tags - orange tags 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

840 tag or Animal Identification Number (AIN) tag

• RFID and visual-only tags available
• 15-digit number; first three numbers are the 840 USA code to be placed in USA origin animals only
• Orange RFID tags are available to accredited veterinarians for brucellosis vaccination
• Available from livestock supply distributors
• National premises number required

900 series tag or manufacturer tag - BEING PHASED OUT AS OFFICIAL ID

• RFID 15-digit tag
• Available from livestock supply distributors
• Are currently considered an official tag for identification purposes for interstate movement only if previously placed on an animal 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 the SDAIB Scrapie pamphlet or contact the SDAIB (605.773.3321) for specific tagging requirements
• Available at no charge from the South Dakota USDA office (605.224.6186)
• Custom numbered scrapie tags available for purchase from livestock supply distributors

Backtags

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

Swine Premises tag

• Pink plastic tag for cull sows and boars
• Available from livestock supply distributors

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).

OFFICIAL IDENTIFICATION BY SPECIES

Official ID for Cattle and Bison

• Official eartags - used for ID on ICVI's, test charts, change of ownership records, and brucellosis vaccination
• Breed registration tattoos to be accompanied with registration certificates - used for ICVI's, test charts (except TB) and change of ownership records
• Backtags - used on animals going directly to slaughter
• Brands - used for ownership and grazing permits

Official ID for Sheep and Goats

• Scrapie tags - used for ICVI's, test charts and intrastate sales
• Scrapie tag application records are kept by the sale barn, veterinarian or producer who applies the tags
• Other official eartags (RFID) and breed registration tattoos used for ICVI's and test charts
• Please see the SDAIB Scrapie pamphlet for more information

Official ID for Swine

• Official eartags (metal, RFID) - used for ICVI's, test charts
• Slap tattoos - used on feeder swine:
  • used by producers to ID feeder swine
  • used by auction markets and collection stations to ID slaughter swine
• Backtags, USDA premises tags - animals moving in slaughter channels
• Registration tattoo - ICVI's, test charts

Official ID for Horses

• Detailed Physical description on an ICVI and/or Coggins test chart - including any brands or lip tattoos.
• Digital photographs sufficient to identify the individual equine.
• USDA approved microchips
  • Electronic indentification that complies with ISO 11784/11785; or
  • Non-ISO electronic identification injected into the equine on or before February 26, 2014.

Official ID for 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 ICVI's

Official ID for Captive Cervids

• Official USDA tags (metal, RFID) - used on ICVI's, test chart, herd inventory records
• Registration tattoo - used on ICVI's, test charts, herd inventory records

Please visit this website for more information on official ID tags for livestock