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NVAP Reference Guide: Sheep and

Goat Identification

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NVAP Reference Guide: Table of Contents

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Preface

Introduction

Control and Eradication

Brucellosis

Johne’s Disease

Pseudorabies (PRV)

Tuberculosis

Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies

Scrapie

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)

Poultry
National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)

Avian Influenza (AI)

Exotic Newcastle disease (END)

Equine Disease

Aquatic Animal

Aquatic Animal National Health Plan

Aquatic Animal Health Activities

Animal Health Emergency Management

Animal Health Emergency Management

Emergency Response Structure

National Response Framework (NRF)

National Incident Management System (NIMS)

National Animal Health Emergency Management System (NAHEMS)

Foreign Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Plan (FAD PReP)

FAD Recognition and Initial Response

National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps (NAHERC)

Notifiable Diseases and Conditions

WOAH and International Standards

Cleaning and Disinfection

Importance of Cleaning & Disinfection

Cleaning

Disinfection

Regulation of Disinfectants

Safety

Disease Surveillance

Laboratory Submissions

Animal Movement

Interstate Regulations

Interstate Movement of Cattle, Horses, Swine, Sheep and Goats

Issuing Interstate Animal Movement Documents

International Animal Movement

Issuing International Health Certificates (IHCs) for Live Animal Movement

Common Problems Observed on Certificates for Live Animal Movement
Animal Identification 

Animal Identification

Cattle Identification

Swine Identification

Equine Identification

Sheep and Goat Identification

Fowl Identification

Compliance and Regulations

Appendix

A: 9 CFR PARTS 160, 161, and 162

B: APHIS VS District Offices

C: State Animal Health Officials

D: Forms

E: Other Organizational Information with Contact Points

F: Web Sites

G: Equine Teeth and Aging

In addition to listing an animal’s age, gender, and breed, use one of the following

identification methods. (See fig. 10 for a depiction of sheep dentition, table 7 for

information on tooth eruption in sheep, and tables 8a and 8b for lists of goat breeds

and sheep breeds.)

Official sheep and goat eartags 

Serial number tags are issued to accredited veterinarians for use in

completing CVIs or test charts when the animal is not already officially

identified and the owner does not have official eartags to use.

Call 1-866-USDA-TAG to request free official sheep and goat serial eartags.

Accredited veterinarians may alternatively elect to purchase official RFID

“840” sheep and goat tags for these purposes directly from an approved

tag manufacturer.

Flock owners likewise may request free official flock ID tags by calling the

same number or may purchase official flock ID or “840” sheep and goat

tags from an approved tag manufacturer. Flock ID tags are imprinted with

the flock ID number and an individual animal number.  
Legible registration tattoo when the animal is accompanied by a copy of the

registration certificate in the current owner’s name, or if not in the current

owner’s name a copy of the registration certificate and a completed transfer of

ownership form dated within 30 days of the movement or if not in the current

owner’s name a copy of the registration certificate and a completed transfer of

ownership form dated within 30 days of the movement or a CVI listing the

registry, the tattoo number and flock of origin owner name and address and

current owner name and address if different. 

Electronic implantable devices (EID) when the animal is accompanied by a

reader and copy of the registration certificate, that includes the EID number,

that is in the current owner’s name, or if not in the current owner’s name a

copy of the registration certificate and a completed transfer of ownership form

dated within 30 days of the movement or a CVI listing the registry, EID number

and flock of origin owner name and address and current owner name and

address if different or in the case of SFCP animals moving without change of

ownership or to another SFCP flock, the EID number and flock of origin owner

name and address and current flock ID, owner name and address if different. 

Legible Flock ID tattoos composed of the Flock Identification Number assigned

by APHIS and an individual animal number unique within the flock. (To get a

Flock ID assigned flock owners can call 1-866-USDA-TAG) 

See 9 CFR parts 79.2 and 79.3 for exemptions or other options.

NOTE: Anyone who applies official identification must maintain records. For detailed

information refer to the Scrapie Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules, Part III.B.2.

 For additional information, call 1-866-USDA-TAG or contact your local APHIS –VS

Area Offices.

Table 7 – Eruption and replacement of teeth in sheep

Teeth Teeth Time of eruption1 Teeth time of replacement1

Di /1 Before birth—up to 8 days I /1 12–18 months

Di /2 Before birth I /2 21–24 months

Di /3 Before birth I /3 27–36 months

Di /4 Birth—up to 8 days I /4 36 – 48 months

Dp 2/2 Before birth—up to 4 weeks P 2/2 21–24 months

Dp 3/3 Before birth—up to 4 weeks P 3/3 21–24 months

Dp 4/4 Before birth—up to 4 weeks P 4/4 21–24 months
Teeth Teeth Time of eruption1 Teeth time of replacement1

M 1/1 3 months

M 2/2 9 months

M 3/3 18 months

1 The lower figures are for early-maturing breeds; the higher figures are for latematuring breeds. Adapted from: Schummer, August; Nickel, Richard; Sack, Wolfgang

Otto. 1979. The viscera of the domestic mammals, second ed. New York:

Springer–Verlag.
Table 8a Sheep Breed Code

CODE DESCRIPTION,SPECIES CODE DESCRIPTION,SPECIES
Table 8a Sheep Breed Code

AB American Blackbelly Sheep,OVI LI Lincoln,OVI

BD Babydoll Sheep,OVI ME Merino,OVI

BB Barbados Blackbelly,OVI SM Miniature Southdown,OVI

BW Black Welsh Mountain,OVI MT Montadale,OVI

BF Black-faced,OVI MF Mottle-faced,OVI

HL Bluefaced Leicester,OVI ML Mule Sheep,OVI

BM Booroola Merino,OVI MU Multiple Breeds Present,OVI

BC Border Cheviot,OVI NC N. Country Cheviot,OVI

BL Border Leicester, OVI NT Natural Colored, OVI

CD California Red,OVI NA Navajo-Churro,OVI

CM California Variegated Mutant,OVI NS Not Specified,OVI

CA Canadian Arcott,OVI OX Oxford,OVI

CH Charolais,OVI PA Panama,OVI

CV Cheviot,OVI PE Perendale,OVI

CF Clun Forest,OVI DP Polled Dorset,OVI

CO Columbia ,OVI PO Polypay,OVI

CP Coopworth,OVI RA Rambouillet,OVI

CS Cormo,OVI RN Romanov,OVI

CR Corriedale,OVI RM Romnelet,OVI

CT Cotswold,OVI RO Romney,OVI

DE Debouillet,OVI RL Royal White,OVI

DM Delaine-Merino,OVI SB Scottish Blackface,OVI

DR Dorper,OVI SH Shetland,OVI

DO Dorset,OVI SR Shropshire,OVI

EF Eastern Friesian,OVI SO Soay/British Soay,OVI

FN Finnish Landrace (Finn),OVI OS "Solid face color, not black",OVI

GL Gotland,OVI ST Southdown,OVI

GC Gulf Coast (FL or LA Native),OVI SC St Croix,OVI

HR "Hairsheep, crossbred",OVI SU Suffolk ,OVI

HA Hampshire,OVI TA Targhee,OVI

HE Herdwick,OVI TS Teeswater,OVI
Table 8a Sheep Breed Code

DH Horned Dorset,OVI TE Texel,OVI

IC Icelandic,OVI TU Tunis,OVI

IF Ile De France,OVI UK Unknown,OVI

JE Jacob,OVI WE Wensleydale,OVI

KA Karakul,OVI WD White Dorper,OVI

KT Katahdin,OVI WF White-faced ,OVI

LE Leicester,OVI WH Wiltshire Horn,OVI

Table 8b Goat Breed Code Table

BREED Goat Breed Code Table BREED

CODE DESCRIPTION,SPECIES CODE DESCRIPTION,SPECIES

AG Angora,CAP ND Nigerian Dwarf,CAP

AL Alpine,CAP NS Not Specified,CAP

BO Boer,CAP NU Nubian,CAP

CS Cashmere,CAP OB Oberhasli,CAP

DR Dairy-type crossbred,CAP PG Pygora,CAP

FI Fiber-type crossbred,CAP PY Pygmy,CAP

FI Fiber-type crossbred,CAP PY Pygmy,CAP

GG Golden Guernsey,CAP SA Saanen,CAP

KI Kiko,CAP SB Sable,CAP

LN La Mancha,CAP SP Spanish,CAP

MT Meat-type crossbred,CAP SV Savannah,CAP

MU Multiple Breeds Present,CAP TO Toggenburg,CAP

MY Myotonic,CAP UK Unknown,CAP