Animal ID and Recordkeeping for Sheep and Goats

Scrapie is an incurable, fatal, degenerative disease that affects the 

central nervous system of sheep and goats. The National Scrapie 

Eradication Program (NSEP), coordinated by the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

(APHIS), has reduced the prevalence of scrapie in adult sheep 

sampled at slaughter by more than 99 percent. 

Federal and State regulations require producers to officially 

identify their sheep and goats under NSEP. You must also keep 

herd records, showing what animals were added and what animals 

left the herd/flock. This guide explains those requirements.

How To Get Official Eartags or Implants

NSEP will provide up to 100 free plastic tags to first-time 

participants in the sheep and goat ID program. We will also provide 

metal serial tags at no cost to markets and dealers while funds last. 

Producers who are not eligible for free tags or who prefer another 

tag type or color can purchase official tags directly from approved 

manufacturers. Visual tags (where the official ID must be read) and 

electronic tags (where the official ID can be electronically scanned) 

are available. Although we encourage using electronic official ID to 

improve our Nation’s ability to quickly trace exposed and diseased 

animals in the event of an outbreak, it is currently not required.

Call 866-USDA-TAG (866-873-2824) to find out if you are eligible for 

free tags or to request flock and premises ID numbers so you can 

obtain official tags. NSEP pre-dates the Animal Disease Traceability 

Program. As a result, sheep and goat premises may be assigned a 

scrapie premises ID, a national premises ID number (PIN) or a State 

location ID (LID).

Approved Tag Manufacturers

Official ID devices must be approved by APHIS, sufficiently tamperresistant for the intended use, have good retention, and provide 

a unique ID number for each animal. APHIS has approved several 

companies to manufacture and sell official devices, including 

tags and injectable transponders. We encourage producers to 

consider the different devices available—including metal or plastic 

tags, radio frequency ID (RFID) tags, or RFID implants (there are 

restrictions on the use of implants)—and choose what works best 

for them. For the list of approved tag manufacturers, go to www.

aphis.usda.gov/animal-health/scrapie and click on “Sheep and 

Goat Identification.”

www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

APHIS-24-006 | November 2023

Animal ID Exemptions

Nearly all sheep and goats must be officially identified as 

part of the NSEP before they enter interstate commerce or if 

ownership changes. However, the following animals are exempt: 

 Sheep or goats moving with a group ID and owner/hauler 

statement. This includes:

– Sexually intact sheep and goats under 18 months of age in 

slaughter channels;

– Sheep and goats of any age shipped directly to a slaughter 

establishment or a federally approved market that has 

agreed to act as an agent for the owner to apply official ID 

and when all the animals in a section of a truck are from the 

same flock of origin; or 

– Sheep or goats moved for grazing or similar management 

reasons without a change of ownership when the animals 

are moved from a premises owned or leased by the owner 

of the animals to another premises owned or leased by the 

owner of the animals. The premises must be recorded in the 

National Scrapie Database as additional flock premises and 

commingling must not occur with unidentified animals born 

in another flock or any animal not part of the flock.

 Castrated sheep or goats under 18 months of age.

 Sheep or goats moving within a State that have only resided 

on premises and in flocks in the same State and where the 

animals and premises are owned by persons who do not 

engage in the interstate commerce of sheep or goats and 

Types of ID Numbers

Premises ID: Permanently assigned to a specific, identifiable 

geographic location. Can include APHIS or State-assigned scrapie 

premises ID, PIN, or LID. Some premises may have more than one 

premises ID. For example, they may have a scrapie premises ID 

and a PIN or LID. PINs contain seven alphanumeric characters. 

LIDs contain six, seven, or eight alphanumeric characters.

A PIN or LID is required to order electronic ID tags or implants

(a scrapie premises ID cannot be used). In most States, PINs and 

LIDs are assigned by the State office: www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/

ourfocus/animalhealth/traceability/state-pin

Flock ID: Assigned to a group of sheep or goats managed as a 

unit on one or more premises and under the same ownership. In 

most States, flock IDs begin with the State postal code. In some 

cases, the flock ID may be the same as the scrapie premises ID.
where the sheep or goats are of a class exempted from official 

ID by the State while in intrastate commerce.

 Sheep or goats moving within a State to a facility where the 

animals will be identified with official ID assigned to the 

owner.

Important: Some State ID requirements are stricter than Federal 

requirements. The exceptions listed here do not apply in all States. 

For information on your State’s ID and movement requirements, 

contact the State Veterinarian’s office. Learn more about 

exemptions to Federal sheep and goat ID requirements at 

www.aphis.usda.gov/animal-health/scrapie

For more details on implant and tattoo restrictions, see the NSEP 

Standards at www.aphis.usda.gov/animal-health/scrapie

Recordkeeping

Records must be kept for 5 years after the animal is sold or 

otherwise disposed. We encourage producers to keep records in an 

electronic format, such as a spreadsheet. When you apply official 

ID, you must record the following information:

 The flock ID number of the flock of origin, the name and 

address of the person who currently owns the animals, and 

the name and address of the owner of the flock of origin, if 

different.

 The name and address of the owner of the flock of birth, if 

known, for animals born in another flock and not already 

identified to flock of birth.

 The date the animals were officially identified.

 The number of identified sheep and goats.

 Each animal’s breed and class, such as cull ewe, feeder lamb, 

breeding doe, etc. If breed is unknown, record the sheep’s face 

color or goat type (milk, fiber, or meat) instead.

 The official ID numbers applied to animals by species or the 

Group ID Number (GIN) applied in the case of a group/lot. 

The official ID number is the complete number on the official 

USDA sheep/goat tag, official tattoo, or approved RFID device. 

You may list the first and last number in a sequential series, 

rather than each individual number.

 Whether the animals were identified with “Slaughter Only” or 

“MEAT” ID devices.

 Any GIN with which the animal was previously identified.

When you buy or sell animals, you must record the following 

information:

 The number of animals purchased, sold, or transferred 

without sale.

 The date of purchase, sale, or other transfer.

 The name and address of the person from whom the animals 

were purchased or otherwise acquired, or to whom they were 

sold or otherwise transferred.

 Each animal’s breed and class, such as cull ewe, feeder lamb, 

breeding doe, etc. If breed is unknown, record the sheep’s face 

color or goat type (milk, fiber, or meat) instead.

 A copy of the brand inspection certificate for animals 

identified with registered brands or ear notches.

 A copy of any certificate or owner/hauler statement required 

for movement of the animals purchased, sold, or otherwise 

transferred.

More Information

To learn more about scrapie or NSEP, go to www.aphis.usda.

gov/animal-health/scrapie. If you have questions, call 866-USDATAG (866-873-2824) or go to www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/

contact-us and select VS Area Offices.

Tagging Tips

 Sheep and goats only need to be officially identified when 

leaving the premises or being sold to another owner.

 Do not buy or sell animals of any age that may be used 

for breeding, or animals over 18 months of age for any 

purpose, unless they are officially identified.

 Plastic tags are best for animals that require shearing. If 

you use metal tags, place it in the left ear, about a third 

of the way down from the head where it is easier to see 

and keep out of the way when shearing. This reduces the 

risk of the tag being struck by the shears and potentially 

damaging the headpiece or injuring the animal or 

operator. For young lambs, leave one third of the tag 

overhanging the edge of the ear to allow for growth.

 Official tags may not be sold or given to another person. 

If you no longer need your tags, destroy or return them to 

the APHIS Veterinary Services District Field Office for your 

State: www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/contact-us

Tattoos

Animals may be identified with a registration tattoo instead of 

a tag if the animal is accompanied by a copy of the registration 

certificate issued by an APHIS-approved registry that lists the 

current owner or the registration certificate and a completed 

transfer of ownership form dated within 60 days that lists the 

current owner. For a list of approved registries, go to www.aphis.

usda.gov/animal-health/scrapie

If your registry is not approved by APHIS, you may still use your 

tattoos if you provide your tattoo prefix and registry name to 

APHIS for inclusion in your flock record and include a copy of your 

confirmation email or letter with the animal. Additionally, you may 

officially identify unregistered sheep or goats with a tattoo that 

includes your APHIS-assigned flock ID number and an individual 

animal number. If you have a registered herd prefix, you may ask 

APHIS to assign it as part of your flock ID number.

Tattoos may not be used as the sole form of official ID for animals 

moving to slaughter or through a livestock market. 

Owners must ensure the legibility of tattoos. Owners should also 

be prepared to assist with the tattoo reading process by providing 

a flashlight or other light source when animals are inspected.