Livestock Ear Tag Requirements in Kentucky: What Every Producer Needs to Know

If you raise cattle, sheep, goats, swine, or other livestock in Kentucky, official ear tags are not optional — they are a legal requirement tied to both state and federal animal disease traceability programs. Getting tagged wrong, or skipping the process entirely, can block your animals from moving through Kentucky markets, cost you interstate selling privileges, and expose you to regulatory penalties.

This guide walks you through every layer of Kentucky’s ear tag rules: which animals are covered, what the November 2024 federal rule change means for your operation, how to get official 840 RFID tags, species-specific requirements, and the recordkeeping obligations that go along with it all.

Which Animals Require Official Ear Tags in Kentucky

Not every animal on your farm needs an official government-issued ear tag, but the list of covered animals is broader than many producers expect. The federal animal disease traceability rule for livestock moved interstate, effective March 2013, established minimum national official identification and documentation requirements. The species covered include cattle and bison, sheep and goats, swine, horses and other equines, captive cervids such as deer and elk, and poultry.

For cattle specifically, Kentucky has its own layer of requirements on top of the federal baseline. The state requires that cattle must have official ear tags, which are available from the state veterinarian’s office. Since Congress did not fund the National Animal Identification System, Kentucky’s requirement fills a gap and ensures that breeding cattle older than 18 months will have a traceable identification number.

For beef cattle moving interstate, the following animal classes must be identified with official ID ear tags, both visually and electronically readable, beginning November 5, 2024, when moving interstate: all sexually intact cattle and bison 18 months of age or over; cattle and bison of any age used for rodeo, shows, exhibition, and recreational events; all dairy cattle, regardless of age or sex or current use; and all offspring of dairy cattle, including Beef on Dairy crossbred cattle.

The requirement for individual identification does not include beef feeder cattle, nor any cattle or bison moving directly to slaughter. If you run a stocker or feeder operation and your cattle are heading straight to a packer, you are generally outside the mandate — but check with your destination state, as receiving states can impose stricter requirements.

Pro Tip: Even if your beef feeder cattle are exempt from the federal EID rule, Kentucky livestock markets may still require official identification before animals enter the sale ring. Confirm tagging requirements directly with your market before loading day.

Federal RFID Ear Tag Rule: What Changed in November 2024

The biggest shift in livestock identification in over a decade took effect on November 5, 2024. The new Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) rule, entitled “Use of Electronic Identification (EID) Eartags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison,” was published in the Federal Register on May 9, 2024, and became effective November 5, 2024.

One stipulation in the new rule requires ear tags to be both visually and electronically readable to be recognized as official ear tags for interstate travel for cattle and bison covered under the regulations. The practical effect is that the old silver metal NUES tags — the ones that have been stapled in ears for decades — are no longer acceptable as new official identification for cattle and bison.

Per 9 CFR Part 86, visual-only NUES tags are no longer acceptable as official identification for cattle and bison when applied on or after November 5, 2024. Visual-only NUES tags for cattle and bison placed in ears prior to this date will be considered official for the life of the animal. This grandfather provision is important: you do not need to retag animals that already carry a valid metal tag applied before the cutoff date.

This final rule now uses the acronym “EID” instead of “RFID” and refers to EID tags as “HDX” or “FDX.” The new rule refers to electronic identification tags rather than radio frequency identification tags to recognize the possibility of other electronically readable technology that may become available in the future.

USDA’s Final 2024 Animal Disease Traceability rule only changes the type of tag that can be used — it does not change the class of animals that are required to be tagged. If your animals were already covered under the 2013 rule, they are still covered. The only thing that changed is what goes in the ear.

Important Note: The 2024 rule applies to interstate movement. Kentucky also has its own intrastate tagging requirements for cattle sold through state livestock markets. Both layers of rules apply to most commercial operations in the state.

Official 840 RFID Ear Tag Requirements in Kentucky

The 840 Animal Identification Number (AIN) tag is now the standard official ear tag for cattle and bison in the United States. Official EID tags are 15 digits long starting with “840-,” have the US shield, and say “Unlawful to Remove.” Official EID tags begin with 840- and are nationally unique, and they also bear the US shield and the statement that they are “Unlawful to Remove.”

EID technologies include both HDX (half-duplex) and FDX (full-duplex) low-frequency ear tags, and both meet U.S. standards for official EID. Either is acceptable for official purposes. Choose based on your reader equipment and management software.

The only EID technology currently approved by APHIS is an 840 tag. 900-series tags do not fulfill the requirements of this rule, because they are not approved as an official means of identification. If you have been using 900-series tags for herd management purposes, those tags cannot substitute for official 840 identification when it comes to interstate movement or market entry.

To purchase official 840 tags, you must first have a Premises Identification Number (PIN). All animals requiring official ID must have an RFID tag. This means cattle sold at a Kentucky livestock market or moving interstate off of the farm that are covered animals must have an RFID tag. To get a PIN, contact the KDA’s animal disease traceability coordinator at statevet@ky.gov or (502) 782-5903.

RFID 840 tags cost between $2 and $5 per tag, depending on the manufacturer, tag style, and order quantity. Congress allocated $15 million in the March 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act specifically for EID tags. Many state veterinarian offices distribute free 840 RFID tags to producers, but supply has been uneven. Contact the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Office of the State Veterinarian to check current tag availability before purchasing from a private supplier.

Species-Specific Ear Tag Rules in Kentucky

The 840 EID rule is cattle-and-bison-focused, but official identification requirements extend to other livestock species through separate federal programs. Each species has its own tagging framework.

Sheep and Goats

Sheep and goats in Kentucky fall under the National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP), which carries its own mandatory identification rules. All sheep and goats must be identified with official scrapie identification prior to unloading or being sold at a Kentucky livestock market or swap meet, and this requirement applies to all sheep and goats regardless of age, breed, or sex.

The scrapie program covers all sheep over 18 months of age; sexually intact sheep under 18 months of age that are sold for breeding or exhibition; sheep sold unrestricted; sheep not in slaughter channels; and sheep that have lambed or are pregnant. Sexually intact goats not in slaughter channels of any age that do not meet the requirements to be considered low-risk commercial goats — such as those that are registered or sold for commercial milk production — are also covered.

Approved forms of official identification for sheep and goats in Kentucky include official plastic ear tags available in multiple colors from APHIS-approved manufacturers, official metal ear tags available through National Band & Tag Company, and radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags approved for interstate commerce.

Kentucky’s consistent-state status under the NSEP means that sheep and goats from Kentucky can be imported into other states with fewer restrictions — but only as long as Kentucky producers maintain compliance with identification, recordkeeping, and movement standards.

Swine

Swine identification in Kentucky operates under a different framework than cattle or small ruminants. Swine moving interstate generally require a premises identification (PIN) tag rather than an 840 AIN tag. All Kentucky-origin swine shall be individually identified with an 840 EID tag listed on a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) for exhibition purposes.

USDA APHIS announced a new initiative to provide no-cost EID tags for swine beginning fall 2025. These EID tags are available for sow and exhibition swine producers, and producers can order tags on the Merck Animal Health website at www.840swinetags.com. Contact the Kentucky Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian Division at (502) 782-5901 to confirm current swine identification requirements for your specific movement scenario.

Horses and Equines

Horses moving interstate from Kentucky generally require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) rather than an ear tag. However, horses used in shows, exhibitions, or rodeo events may need official identification consistent with the requirements of the receiving state. When covered animals move interstate, unless otherwise exempt, they must be officially identified and accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection (ICVI) or other movement document agreed upon by both the sending and receiving states.

Where to Get Official Ear Tags in Kentucky

You have two main avenues for obtaining official 840 RFID ear tags in Kentucky: through the state veterinarian’s office (which may distribute free tags when USDA funding is available) or directly from USDA-approved private manufacturers.

Before ordering from any source, you must have your PIN registered. You must have a PIN or LID to purchase electronic official animal ID tags, whether you are an organization wanting to hand out large numbers of tags or an individual producer trying to get tags only for your own animals.

Three major manufacturers produce approved 840 tags: Allflex (Dallas, TX), Datamars (Temple, TX), and Y-Tex (Cody, WY). Tags are available through veterinary supply distributors, farm supply stores, and directly from manufacturers. The full list of USDA-approved manufacturers also includes All Data Tags LLC, AniTrace, Digital Angel Corp., Eriginate Corp., Global Animal Management, Leader Products, and Shearwell Data Ltd.

For sheep and goat scrapie tags specifically, producers should call USDA at (502) 848-2054 to obtain their Premises/Flock ID number prior to ordering if they do not already know their flock ID number. The National Scrapie Eradication Program provides up to 100 plastic flock ID tags free of charge to first-time participants in the sheep and goat identification program until available funds are expended.

Pro Tip: Order tags well before you need them. First-time scrapie tag orders through USDA can take 3–6 weeks to arrive. For cattle, confirm with the KDA State Veterinarian’s office whether free USDA-funded 840 tags are still available before paying out of pocket.

How and When to Apply Ear Tags in Kentucky

Proper tag application protects both animal welfare and tag retention. A tag that falls out before an animal reaches the market or crosses a state line creates a compliance problem that is entirely avoidable with correct technique.

Apply the official tag well before movement — at processing, preconditioning, or prior to sale or shipment — to avoid delays. Place the tag in the middle third of the ear, between the two cartilage ribs, avoiding blood vessels. Follow brand-specific instructions.

Tags should be placed in the left ear following standard protocol. While the federal rule does not mandate a specific ear, the left ear is the industry-standard placement and is expected by most market personnel and inspectors in Kentucky.

Timing matters as much as placement. If cattle arrive at the stockyards with official tags, those tags will not be removed and no new tags will be added. However, if cattle arrive at the stockyards without tags, they will receive either the most commonly used metal ear tag approved by USDA or an RFID tag in the 840 series or stamped with a USDA shield. Arriving at a Kentucky market without tags means your animals get tagged at the gate — potentially with a tag style you did not choose and at your expense.

For animals that already carry a valid official tag applied before November 5, 2024: non-EID official ear tags applied before November 5, 2024 remain valid. If you apply a new EID tag to an already officially identified animal, you must record both tag numbers and the date the new tag was applied.

If you move livestock regularly across Kentucky’s borders, review the transporting livestock laws in Kentucky alongside ear tag rules — both sets of requirements apply simultaneously during interstate movement.

Ear Tag Requirements for Interstate Movement in Kentucky

Moving livestock out of Kentucky — or receiving animals from another state — triggers both federal and state-level identification requirements. Getting this wrong can result in animals being turned back at state lines or quarantined at destination markets.

For cattle and bison, the new rule requires ear tags to be both visually and electronically readable to be recognized as official ear tags for interstate travel. This final rule does not require exclusive use of ear tags; the regulations continue to list ear tags as one of several forms of authorized official identification, which also include tattoos and brands when accepted by state officials in the sending and receiving states.

The documentation requirement is equally important. When covered animals move interstate, unless otherwise exempt, they must be officially identified and accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection (ICVI) or other movement document agreed upon by both the sending and receiving states. Your accredited veterinarian issues the ICVI, and they will verify that your animals carry proper official identification before signing off.

For sheep and goats, the rules apply to sheep or goats that are moving or have moved in interstate commerce, that have resided on premises where interstate commerce is conducted, or that are owned by people who engage in interstate commerce — including animals moved through markets or other sites where interstate commerce occurs even if the particular animal has not left the state.

Destination state rules can be stricter than Kentucky’s. Always check receiving-state requirements before loading. A resource like USDA APHIS Animal Disease Traceability provides state-by-state import and export requirement information. If you are hauling cattle into a neighboring state, also review the livestock trailer requirements in Kentucky to make sure your transport setup meets both states’ standards.

Species	Interstate ID Requirement	Tag Type	Document Required
Beef cattle (intact, 18+ months)	Required	Official 840 EID tag	ICVI
Dairy cattle (all ages)	Required	Official 840 EID tag	ICVI
Show/rodeo cattle (any age)	Required	Official 840 EID tag	ICVI
Beef feeder cattle (under 18 months)	Generally exempt (check receiving state)	Not required federally	May be required
Sheep and goats (covered classes)	Required	Official scrapie ID tag or RFID	ICVI
Swine	Required	PIN tag or 840 EID (exhibition)	ICVI or CVI
Horses	Varies by receiving state	Official ID per destination	ICVI

Producers in neighboring states moving animals into Kentucky should also be familiar with the rules in their home state. Resources covering livestock trailer requirements in Missouri, livestock trailer requirements in Illinois, and livestock trailer requirements in Tennessee can help ensure full compliance on both ends of an interstate move.

Recordkeeping Requirements for Ear-Tagged Animals in Kentucky

Tagging an animal is only half the obligation. Recordkeeping is the other half, and it is where many Kentucky producers fall short. Both federal and state programs require you to maintain documentation that links each official tag number to a specific animal, premises, and transaction.

For cattle, if the animal was tagged with an electronic ear tag, the tag distribution records are stored in APHIS’ Animal Identification Number Management System database (AIMS), which is easily accessible to animal health officials and provides the starting point for the trace. The AIMS database is populated when you or your tag distributor records the tag assignment — but that only works if you actually record it.

For sheep and goats under the scrapie program, records must be kept for five years after the animal is sold or otherwise disposed of. Producers should ideally keep records in an electronic format, such as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

The minimum data you must record for sheep and goat transactions includes:

• The flock ID number of the flock of origin and the name and address of the current owner
• The breed and class of the animals (e.g., cull ewes, feeder lambs, breeding does)
• The official ID numbers applied to each animal, or the Group Identification Number (GIN) for a group/lot
• The date the animals were officially identified
• Whether the animals were identified as “Slaughter Only” or for unrestricted movement

Many producers assume that recordkeeping only applies to interstate movement. In Kentucky, the identification and documentation requirements extend to intrastate change-of-ownership transactions as well, because Kentucky must maintain consistent-state status under the NSEP. Failing to document intrastate sales can jeopardize your ability to move animals across state lines later.

For cattle, the federal rule also clarifies record retention obligations. The final rule clarifies certain record retention and record access requirements and revises some requirements pertaining to slaughter cattle. Keep all tag distribution records, purchase receipts, and movement documents for a minimum of five years as a best practice — even when the specific program requirement is shorter.

Key Insight: If you ever add a new 840 EID tag to an animal that already carries an official tag, federal rules require you to record both the old and new tag numbers along with the date of retagging. This dual-record requirement ensures traceability is not broken when tags are replaced due to loss or damage.

Staying current on ear tag and animal movement rules is an ongoing responsibility. For a broader view of Kentucky’s livestock regulations, the transporting livestock laws in Kentucky page covers movement documentation, load limits, and hauler requirements that work alongside ear tag compliance. Producers who also operate in other states can find state-specific guidance through resources covering livestock trailer requirements in Georgia, livestock trailer requirements in Alabama, and livestock trailer requirements in Pennsylvania.

If you have questions about your specific operation, contact the Kentucky Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian Division at (502) 782-5901 or email statevet@ky.gov. For federal-level guidance on the 840 EID rule, the USDA APHIS Animal Disease Traceability page provides the Final Rule, FAQs, and information on how to obtain free electronic ID tags.