Swine Ear Notching Laws in Arkansas: What Every Pig Owner Needs to Know

If you raise pigs in Arkansas — whether you run a commercial operation, a small farm, or a purebred breeding program — understanding swine ear notching laws is not optional. The rules governing how you identify your animals directly affect your ability to sell, move, show, and register hogs without running into legal or regulatory problems.

Arkansas draws a clear line between ear notching as a farm management tool and ear notching as official legal identification. Knowing which side of that line your situation falls on can save you from quarantine orders, failed sales, and compliance headaches. This guide walks you through every aspect of swine ear notching law in the state, from the basics of the 1-3-9 system to how it stacks up against ear tags, tattoos, and RFID under Arkansas regulations.

What Is Swine Ear Notching and When It Is Used in Arkansas

Ear notching is a permanent method of marking pigs by cutting small V-shaped notches into specific sections of each ear. Each notch position carries a numeric value, and the combination of notches across both ears creates a unique identifier for each animal. The practice has been a staple of swine production for generations because it requires no special equipment beyond a V-notcher, costs very little, and leaves a mark that cannot fall off or fade.

In Arkansas, ear notching is most commonly used on farms for internal herd recordkeeping, by purebred breeders to satisfy registry requirements, and by 4-H and FFA youth participants preparing show pigs. The simplest identification method recommended by most breed associations is ear notching, and the most common notching system is the 1-3-9 system. Arkansas pig producers rely on it to track litter histories, vaccination schedules, and parentage without the ongoing cost of tags or electronic devices.

That said, ear notching in Arkansas serves a very specific role — and it does not automatically substitute for the official identification the state requires when animals change hands or cross state lines. Understanding that distinction is the foundation of staying compliant.

Pro Tip: Notch piglets within the first one to three days of birth. If pigs can be notched when their tails are docked, or at 1–3 days old, the task is much easier. Waiting until pigs grow larger makes the process physically demanding and increases stress on the animal.

When Ear Notching Qualifies as Official Identification in Arkansas

This is where many Arkansas pig owners get tripped up. The state’s regulations are direct on the point: ear notches are not an official identification under Arkansas swine regulations. That statement comes directly from 2 CAR § 152-104, which governs in-state swine requirements. For any transaction involving a change of ownership or lease, ear notches alone will not satisfy the law.

All swine undergoing a change of ownership or lease must be identified with an official premise identification by official ear tag, tattoo, or other approved device prior to change of ownership or lease. This means that if you sell a pig — even to a neighbor down the road — that animal must carry a premise identification number on an approved device before the sale is complete.

There is one narrow context in which ear notching does carry official weight at the federal level: purebred registry compliance. Ear notching qualifies as official identification if the ear notching has been recorded in the book of record of a purebred registry association. According to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), this registry-recorded notch can serve as official ID for breeding swine moving in certain channels. However, this exception applies only when the notch is formally documented with a recognized breed registry — not simply applied on-farm without registration.

For exhibition purposes in Arkansas, ear notching does appear on the list of acceptable identification methods. Animals must be individually identified, showing positive identification of each animal by tattoo, ear tag, registration number, or ear notch under Arkansas exhibition health requirements. This means a properly notched pig entered in a county fair or state show can satisfy the identification requirement on the certificate of veterinary inspection — provided all other health documentation is in order.

Important Note: Exhibition acceptance of ear notches does not extend to commercial sales or ownership transfers. Always confirm which regulatory context applies to your specific situation before relying on notches as identification.

How the 1-3-9 Ear Notching System Works

The 1-3-9 system is the standard ear notching method used by swine producers and breed registries across the United States, including in Arkansas. It assigns numeric values to specific positions on each ear and uses addition to encode both a litter number and an individual pig number into a permanent mark.

The pig’s right ear is designated as the “litter” ear. Notches in this ear tell the producer which litter the pig was born to. The litter mark ear is divided into five sections, and each section has a numerical value: either 1, 3, 9, 27, or 81. All pigs born in the same litter receive identical notches in the right ear.

The left ear is used for notches to show an individual pig’s number in the litter. Each pig will have different notches in the left ear. The left ear is divided into three sections, with values of 1, 3, and 9. You add up the values of all notches in the left ear to get the pig’s individual number within that litter.

Here is how the math works in practice:

• Right ear (litter number): Zones valued at 1, 3, 9, 27, and 81. Up to two notches per zone except the 81 tip notch. Example — notches in the 3 zone (twice) and the 27 zone = litter 33.
• Left ear (pig number): Zones valued at 1, 3, and 9. Up to two notches per zone. Example — notches in the 1 zone and the 3 zone = pig number 4.
• Reading the ID: After notching, an individual pig’s identification would be read as something like 14-6. The 14 represents a pig from the 14th litter and the 6 represents the 6th pig within the 14th litter.

Since confusion over which ear is the “left ear” can easily occur depending on whether you view the pig from the front or the rear, a good way to remember is to always look the pig in the face — then, if read left-to-right, it would always be litter number then pig number.

There are five designated zones (1, 3, 9, 27, and 81) in the litter ear and three designated zones (1, 3, and 9) in the individual pig ear. In zones 1, 3, 9, and 27, there can only be two notches — thus if there are two notches in all four zones, that would represent litter 80. A notch in zone 81 basically doubles the system, allowing producers to track well over 160 litters before needing to reset.

Pro Tip: Avoid putting a notch midway in the outside edge of either ear. Such marks can easily be mistaken for either a 1 or a 3. Precise placement prevents misreads that could cause registry or recordkeeping errors.

Ear Notching for Purebred Registry Compliance in Arkansas

For Arkansas producers who raise registered purebred hogs — including breeds such as Berkshire, Duroc, Hampshire, and Yorkshire — ear notching is not just a farm practice but a registry requirement. Breed associations have long relied on the 1-3-9 system to verify parentage and maintain accurate pedigree records.

The Certified Pedigreed Swine (CPS) organization, which oversees several major breed registries, uses the ear notch as a core component of animal enrollment. The right ear is used for the litter mark, and all pigs in the same litter must have the same notches in the right ear. This consistency requirement is what makes the notch useful as a registry tool — it ties each individual pig to a specific documented litter.

When ear notching is recorded in a breed registry’s book of record, it gains a legal standing it would not otherwise have. Ear notching qualifies as official identification if the ear notching has been recorded in the book of record of a purebred registry association. Tattoos on the ear or inner flank of any swine also qualify if the tattoos have been recorded in the book of record of a swine registry association. This means the documentation step — submitting litter registration paperwork to the breed association — is what converts a farm notch into an officially recognized mark.

If you are raising purebred pigs in Arkansas and plan to sell breeding stock or enter animals in sanctioned shows, you should:

1. Apply ear notches within the first three days of birth using the standard 1-3-9 system.
2. Record the litter information and notch pattern with your breed association promptly.
3. Keep copies of the registration paperwork on file and available for any inspection or sale transaction.
4. Confirm with the specific registry whether notching alone satisfies their requirements or whether a complementary tattoo or tag is also needed.

Arkansas producers involved in 4-H and FFA swine projects should also note that ear notches help breeders maintain accurate records with regard to registration and health records on the farm, including vaccination records. County extension offices can assist with proper notching technique and enrollment requirements for youth livestock programs.

Ear Notching vs. Ear Tags, Tattoos, and RFID in Arkansas

Understanding how ear notching compares to other identification methods helps you choose the right approach for your operation — and ensures you are always using a method that satisfies Arkansas law for the specific transaction at hand.

Identification Method	Official ID Under Arkansas Law	Accepted for Change of Ownership	Accepted for Exhibition	Accepted for Interstate Movement
Ear Notch (unregistered)	No	No	Yes	No
Ear Notch (registry-recorded)	Limited (registry context)	No (still requires official tag)	Yes	Yes (breeding swine in registry channels)
Official Ear Tag (Premise ID)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Tattoo (official/premise)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes (registry-recorded)
RFID / Electronic Device	Yes (if approved)	Yes (if approved)	Yes	Yes

All swine undergoing a change of ownership or lease must be identified with an official premise identification by official ear tag, tattoo, or other approved device prior to change of ownership or lease. An official ear tag bearing your premises identification number (PIN) is the most straightforward way to meet this requirement for most commercial and small-farm operations in Arkansas.

Ear notches are not an official identification. All swine 40 pounds or over entering a market must be identified with a premise identification on an official ear tag or other approved device prior to unloading. This weight threshold is particularly relevant for feeder pig producers who may assume that notched piglets are adequately identified when they reach market weight.

For slaughter and feeder swine, the USDA APHIS framework specifies that an ear tag or tattoo bearing the Premises Identification Number assigned by the State Animal Health Official to the premises on which the swine originated is required. RFID tags that encode the premises ID number satisfy this requirement and are increasingly common in larger operations because they integrate with electronic record systems.

The practical takeaway: ear notching and official premise ID tags are not mutually exclusive. Many Arkansas producers use both — notching newborn piglets for litter recordkeeping and registry purposes, then applying an official ear tag before any sale or movement off the farm. This two-layer approach satisfies both the registry and the state simultaneously. You can find related guidance on transporting livestock in Arkansas to understand how identification requirements extend to animals in transit.

State-Specific Swine Identification Rules That Affect Ear Notching in Arkansas

Arkansas enforces swine identification through the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission, which operates under the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. The rules cover in-state sales, interstate imports, exhibition animals, and feral swine separately — and ear notching intersects with each of these categories in different ways.

In-State Sales and Ownership Transfers

All breeding swine sold within the state must be tested negative for pseudorabies and brucellosis within thirty days of sale, or originate from a qualified validated commercial production swine herd. The identification requirement and the disease testing requirement go hand in hand — an official ear tag or approved device is needed to link the animal to its test records. An ear notch alone cannot serve that linking function under state law.

Ear tags or other approved devices that contain a premise identification may be removed only at slaughter. This rule prevents producers or buyers from stripping official identification from animals after a sale, which would break the traceability chain Arkansas relies on for disease surveillance.

Interstate Entry into Arkansas

Permits are required on all swine, zoo, fur-bearing and other wild and/or exotic animals, ratites, camelids, cervids, passerine birds, psittacine birds, and all other avian except poultry entering the State of Arkansas. If you are bringing pigs into Arkansas from another state, a permit from the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission is mandatory — regardless of how the animal is identified. You can reach the State Veterinarian’s office at (501) 907-2400 to request entry permits.

All feeder pigs, not under the authority of a commuter swine agreement, being imported into the state must have an official premise identification, be individually identified, and be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and permit number. This applies even to small lots of feeder pigs coming in for grow-out operations. Ear notches on imported pigs do not substitute for these requirements.

Breeding swine of any age, except from pseudorabies qualified herds or from areas designated as pseudorabies free, shall be tested and found negative for pseudorabies by a USDA approved test within thirty days prior to movement. Tests for gene-deleted vaccines are not acceptable. All breeding swine will be quarantined and must be retested thirty to sixty days after arrival at owner’s expense for brucellosis and pseudorabies.

Exhibition Animals

Arkansas exhibition regulations allow ear notches as one of several acceptable identification methods on the certificate of veterinary inspection. Animals must be individually identified, showing positive identification of each animal by tattoo, ear tag, registration number, or ear notch. For county fair pigs, district shows, and state fair entries, a properly applied and readable ear notch satisfies the identification portion of the CVI — but the health testing and permit requirements still apply independently.

Entry permits are required on all out-of-state swine brought to Arkansas exhibitions. If you are hauling show pigs from a neighboring state to compete at an Arkansas fair, the permit requirement kicks in regardless of how the animals are identified. Review the pet and animal import laws in Arkansas for a broader look at how the state handles incoming animals across species.

Feral Swine

Feral swine may not enter into Arkansas until they have become domesticated. This rule effectively prohibits the capture and direct introduction of wild hogs into any Arkansas livestock operation. No identification method — including ear notching — makes a feral hog eligible for movement or sale until it has gone through a domestication process recognized by the state.

Non-Compliance Consequences

Livestock and poultry moving into Arkansas found to be in non-compliance with Arkansas laws and regulations shall be quarantined to the nearest facility until all requirements are met. Expenses for all costs, including feed, hauling, rent, and death loss, shall be borne by the owner, shipper, or responsible person involved before animals may be released. This means that relying on ear notches when official identification is required can result in costly quarantine situations that fall entirely on you as the owner.

Staying current with Arkansas livestock rules matters for any animal owner in the state. Whether you manage goats, backyard chickens, or beehives, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture applies species-specific identification and health standards that affect how you manage, move, and sell your animals. For swine specifically, the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission is the primary regulatory body — and their rules are enforced at markets, state lines, and exhibition grounds alike.

Key Takeaway: Ear notching is a valuable, low-cost farm management tool in Arkansas — but it is not a substitute for official premise identification in any commercial or interstate context. Apply notches early for recordkeeping and registry purposes, then add an official ear tag before any sale, transport, or market entry to stay fully compliant with Arkansas swine identification law.

For questions about premises identification numbers, disease testing requirements, or entry permits, contact the Arkansas Department of Agriculture Livestock and Poultry Division directly. You can also review the full text of Arkansas swine regulations through the Code of Arkansas Rules or consult resources from USDA APHIS for the federal identification framework that underlies state-level requirements. If you are raising hogs alongside other livestock, the rooster laws in Arkansas and rooster crowing regulations offer useful context on how the state approaches small-farm animal ownership more broadly.