Livestock Ear Tag Requirements in Minnesota: What Producers Need to Know
July 7, 2026
Minnesota livestock producers are navigating one of the most significant shifts in official animal identification in years. As of November 5, 2024, visual-only ear tags no longer qualify as official identification for covered cattle and bison — RFID is now the standard, and the Minnesota Board of Animal Health (BAH) has fully aligned with the federal rule.
Whether you raise cattle, sheep, goats, swine, or farmed cervidae, understanding which animals need official ear tags, which tag formats are accepted, and how to keep compliant records is essential before your next sale, show, or interstate shipment. This guide walks you through every requirement so you can stay ahead of the rules — not behind them.
Which Animals Require Official Ear Tags in Minnesota
Not every animal on your Minnesota farm needs an official ear tag, but the categories that do are broad enough to affect most operations. All cattle intended for breeding, rodeo, or exhibition, as well as all intact dairy females (including crossbreeds), all bulls 10 months of age and over, and all beef heifers 18 months of age and over are required to be officially identified upon movement from the herd to another location.
The trigger for official ID is movement — not simply ownership. The federal rule changes what counts as official ID, not when official ID is needed. The rules regarding what needs to be identified when are not changing. That means if you already knew which animals required tagging before November 2024, the same animals still do — only the tag type has changed.
For other species, the picture is different. Sheep and goats must be officially identified. Breeding and feeding swine must be officially identified, unless in slaughter classes only. Farmed cervidae (deer, elk, and related species) carry their own distinct identification requirements under state law, covered in the species section below.
Pro Tip: Your Premises Identification Number (PIN) is required before you can order official 840 RFID tags. If you do not yet have a PIN, contact the Minnesota Board of Animal Health at 651-296-2942 before placing any tag order.
Federal RFID Ear Tag Rule: What Changed in November 2024
The USDA made a Federal Rule requiring the use of RFID for Official Identification effective November 5, 2024. The rule requires that eartags applied on or after a date 180 days after publication in the Federal Register of this final rule be both visually and electronically readable in order to be recognized for use as official eartags for interstate movement of cattle and bison covered under the regulations.
USDA published the final rule on May 9, 2024, making the effective date November 5, 2024. The Minnesota BAH adopted the rule on the same timeline. These rules are also effective for intrastate (within Minnesota) movements, and using RFID tags bolsters the ability to quickly and accurately track the movements of animals in and around the state.
One important protection for producers with existing tags: 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 and need not be replaced.
These changes enhance the ability of Tribal, State and Federal officials, private veterinarians, and livestock producers to quickly respond to high-impact diseases currently existing in the United States, as well as foreign animal diseases that threaten the viability of the U.S. cattle and bison industries. You can review the full federal rule at the Federal Register.
Important Note: The November 2024 rule applies specifically to cattle and bison. Sheep, goats, swine, and cervidae have separate identification standards that are not governed by this RFID mandate — see the species-specific section below for those details.
Official 840 RFID Ear Tag Requirements in Minnesota
The 840 Animal Identification Number (AIN) RFID tag is now the standard official ear tag for cattle and bison in Minnesota. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) using the Animal Identification Number (AIN) System meets the official identification requirement. AIN tags consist of 15 digits beginning with the official country code — ‘840’ for the United States. In compliance with federal law, AIN tags must display the U.S. shield if applied to an animal on or after March 11, 2015.
The physical tag itself must meet specific criteria. 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. Official EID tags also bear the US shield and the statement that they are “Unlawful to Remove.”
Two RFID technology formats are accepted. Both HDX (half-duplex) and FDX (full-duplex) low-frequency ear tags meet U.S. standards for official EID. Either is acceptable for official purposes. Choose based on your reader equipment and management software.
Older tag formats are grandfathered in limited circumstances. 15-digit tags beginning with the letters ‘USA’ or manufacturer-coded tags beginning with any number between 900–998 are only official if applied to the animal prior to March 11, 2015. Any new tags applied today must be 840 RFID tags from a USDA-approved manufacturer.
| Tag Characteristic | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Number of digits | 15 digits total |
| Starting prefix | 840 (U.S. country code) |
| Required markings | U.S. shield + “Unlawful to Remove” |
| Technology type | RFID (HDX or FDX low-frequency) |
| Readable format | Both visually and electronically |
| Tamper design | One-time use, tamper-evident |
Species-Specific Ear Tag Rules in Minnesota
Minnesota’s ear tag rules differ meaningfully by species. Applying the wrong tag type — or assuming cattle rules apply to your sheep or swine — is one of the most common compliance mistakes producers make.
Cattle and Bison
The rule specifies ear tags for all sexually intact cattle and bison 18 months of age or older, all dairy cattle, cattle and bison of any age used for rodeo or recreation events, and cattle or bison of any age used for shows or exhibition must be both visually and electronically readable in order to be recognized for use as official identification for interstate movement. As of November 5, 2024, that means an 840 RFID tag for any animal tagged after that date.
Sheep and Goats
Sheep and goats fall under the USDA National Scrapie Eradication Program rather than the November 2024 RFID mandate. Visual-only NUES tags are official options for other species for which they are approved — and sheep and goats are among those species. For official interstate movement of sheep and goats using EID, the EID number must begin with the prefix 840, unless it was applied to the animal before March 11, 2015. Sheep or goats cannot be imported to a livestock concentration point or be in slaughter channels. Sheep or goats must be accompanied by an electronic reader.
Flock/herd ID tags are another accepted option for sheep and goats born on your premises. These tags are available for purchase in plastic or metal and are used for identification of sheep/goats born on the premises associated with the flock/herd ID. Sheep or goat producers who have not previously registered with the National Scrapie Eradication program through the Board office, have never ordered official ear tags through USDA or the Board office, and breed sheep or goats are eligible for up to 100 plastic flock/herd ID ear tags at no cost.
Swine
Swine identification rules in Minnesota hinge on whether the animal is entering slaughter channels or moving for other purposes. A swine ear tag identifies a sow or boar to the premises they were kept immediately prior to entering slaughter channels; swine must remain in slaughter channels. If the tag includes a unique within-herd management number (imprinted by the manufacturer), the tag qualifies as an official ear tag for interstate movement; swine do not need to be in slaughter channels.
A tattoo (or tag) with a monitored herd number or state/national assigned premises number is also acceptable. A brand is not recognized as official ID in Minnesota, except on horses. USDA has also announced a no-cost EID tag program for swine: USDA APHIS announced an initiative to provide no-cost EID tags for swine beginning fall 2025, available for sow and exhibition swine producers, with ordering available at www.840swinetags.com.
Farmed Cervidae
Farmed cervidae — deer, elk, and related species — face some of the strictest identification rules in Minnesota. Official ear tags placed in farmed cervidae after January 1, 2018 must adhere to either the National Uniform Ear-tagging System or the Animal Identification Number system. Minnesota’s state number for NUES tags is ’41’. Farmed cervidae must be identified by means approved by the Board of Animal Health. The identification must be visible to the naked eye during daylight under normal conditions at a distance of 50 yards, and newborn animals must be identified before December 31 of the year in which the animal is born or before movement from the premises, whichever occurs first.
A permit must be obtained from the board prior to the importation of live Cervidae into Minnesota. Live Cervidae imported into Minnesota must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection issued by an accredited veterinarian. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) restrictions add another layer — live Cervidae may not be imported into the state from a CWD endemic area, as determined by the board.
For more on Minnesota’s broader animal health compliance framework, see the guide to livestock biosecurity requirements in Minnesota.
Where to Get Official Ear Tags in Minnesota
You have two main routes to obtaining official 840 RFID ear tags in Minnesota: purchasing from a USDA-approved manufacturer or checking with the BAH for any available no-cost tag allocations.
You can purchase tags from a USDA-approved tag manufacturer. Allflex, Datamars, Destron, Leader, Shearwell, Wuxi, and Y-Tex sell approved RFID tags. Tags are also available through veterinary supply distributors and farm supply stores. RFID 840 tags cost between $2 and $5 per tag, depending on the manufacturer, tag style, and order quantity (as of early 2026).
Free tags have been available through federal funding, though supply has been limited. 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. North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana all reported using up their 2024 allocations before year-end. Contact the BAH directly at 651-296-2942 or email trace@state.mn.us to check current availability.
For sheep and goat producers just getting started, sheep or goat producers who have not previously registered with the National Scrapie Eradication program through the Board office, have never ordered official ear tags through USDA or the Board office, and breed sheep or goats are eligible for up to 100 plastic flock/herd ID ear tags at no cost.
For NUES metal tags for cervidae or other eligible species, silver metal NUES tags may be purchased from Ketchum Manufacturing (minimum order 100 tags) by calling 800-222-0460 or National Band & Tag Company (minimum order 100 tags for producers; 1000 tags for veterinarians) by calling 859-261-2035. Silver metal NUES tags may also be available from your veterinarian. Plastic NUES tags may be purchased from Leedstone by calling 877-608-3877.
For 4-H animals, 4-H tags are available by contacting your county extension office. The University of Minnesota Extension also maintains updated 4-H animal ID requirements for exhibition animals, which were updated to reflect the 2026 USDA APHIS identification rule.
Pro Tip: Order your tags well before any planned sale or shipment. RFID applicators are sold separately from the tags themselves, and you will need a compatible applicator for the brand and model you purchase. Confirm HDX or FDX compatibility with any existing reader equipment on your farm before ordering.
How and When to Apply Ear Tags in Minnesota
Timing and technique both matter when applying official ear tags. Applying a tag incorrectly can result in poor retention, failed electronic reads, or an animal that arrives at a sale barn without a working tag — creating compliance headaches and potential delays.
Apply the official tag well before movement — such as at processing, preconditioning, or prior to sale/shipment — to avoid delays. For cattle intended for shows or rodeos, tag the animal before it leaves your premises, not at the event.
Placement technique directly affects how long a tag stays in and whether it reads reliably:
- Place the tag in the middle third of the ear, between the two cartilage ribs; avoid blood vessels. Follow brand-specific instructions.
- Clean the applicator and ear. Ensure firm closure; check retention before animals leave the chute.
- Tags should be placed in the left ear (following standard protocol).
- Remove twine from hay bales and ensure hay rings are in good condition to minimize catching and snagging of tags after application.
Minnesota law is strict about who may apply tags and what happens if a tag is removed. Official ear tags may only be distributed and applied to animals in a manner approved by the board. A person may not tamper with or remove official ear tags from an animal without the board’s permission.
If an animal already carries an official ear tag and you need to add another, an additional official ear tag of the same type may not be applied without prior permission from the Board. You can add a tag of a different type as long as all official ear tag numbers are recorded on all required official records.
For sheep and goat producers replacing lost tags, if an animal loses an ear tag, it can be replaced with an official ear tag assigned to the producer, as long as records indicate the animal’s origin. The lost ear tag number should be documented and associated with the new ear tag number in the producer’s records when possible. When the animal’s origin is unknown, producers should not use their assigned official flock/herd ID tags to replace the lost ID.
Ear Tag Requirements for Interstate Movement in Minnesota
Moving livestock out of Minnesota — or receiving animals from another state — triggers a set of requirements that go beyond the ear tag itself. Any livestock moving interstate must also meet requirements of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the state of destination. At minimum, this is a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) issued by an accredited veterinarian. Official identification, import permits, testing, and/or vaccinations may also be required prior to interstate movement.
For cattle and bison specifically, the November 2024 RFID rule applies to all covered interstate movements. The rule applies to specific categories of cattle and bison crossing state lines: sexually intact beef cattle and bison 18 months of age or older. All dairy cattle of any age and cattle used for rodeo, recreation, shows, or exhibition also require RFID tags for interstate movement.
Importing livestock into Minnesota puts the responsibility on you. The out-of-state producer must tell their veterinarian to call the Board’s office to learn about the import requirements for the livestock entering the State of Minnesota. Minnesota livestock producers can be held responsible for imported livestock that do not meet the state’s import requirements.
For destination-state requirements when shipping out of Minnesota, you can visit InterstateLivestock.com to view requirements for states. Each receiving state sets its own import rules, and they may be stricter than Minnesota’s baseline. If you regularly ship to neighboring states, reviewing the requirements for Wisconsin, South Dakota, Iowa, and North Dakota is a practical step before loading.
Minnesota’s own livestock trailer requirements also apply whenever you move animals on public roads — make sure your rig is compliant before any interstate or intrastate haul.
Important Note: During a declared disease emergency, movement restrictions can become significantly more stringent. According to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, the BAH can require movement permits for all cattle, bison, goats, and farmed cervidae moving between premises within a designated zone. Keep your premises PIN active at all times — it is the key to obtaining movement permits during a disease event.
Recordkeeping Requirements for Ear-Tagged Animals in Minnesota
Applying the right tag is only half the job. Minnesota requires detailed records any time official ear tags are applied, distributed, or associated with an animal transaction — and those records must be available to the Board on request.
When you apply an official ear tag, persons who apply official ear tags to livestock must maintain records on each animal identified, including: the characters on or contained within the ear tag; characters on or contained within other official ear tags on the animal; species, sex, age, and type of animal; date of application; and name and address of the premises where the animal was identified.
For cattle transactions specifically, a person or entity that purchases, acquires, trades, deals in, sells, or disposes of cattle must maintain records on the acquisition and disposition of the cattle. Records must be retained for five years. Those records must include the date of the transaction, number of animals, species, breed, age, class, and the names and addresses of all parties involved.
Farmed cervidae records carry an even longer retention requirement. A herd owner must maintain herd records that include a complete inventory of animals including the type, age, and sex of each animal, the date of acquisition, the source of each animal that was not born into the herd, the date of disposal and destination of any animal removed from the herd, and all individual identification numbers associated with each animal. If animals enter or leave the herd, the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of previous or subsequent owners of the animals must be recorded. Records must be maintained for at least ten years.
If your veterinarian distributes tags to you, they must also keep records. Veterinarians may distribute official identification ear tags to their clients for application to Minnesota livestock. When official ear tags are distributed, records must be kept, including: date of distribution; the characters on or contained within each ear tag distributed; and name and address of the premises where the livestock to be identified reside.
| Record Type | Who Must Keep It | Retention Period |
|---|---|---|
| Ear tag application records | Anyone applying official tags | 5 years |
| Cattle acquisition/disposition | Anyone buying, selling, or trading cattle | 5 years |
| Tag distribution records | Veterinarians distributing tags | 5 years |
| Farmed cervidae herd inventory | Cervidae herd owners | 10 years |
A person or entity required by the board to keep records on livestock must, upon request, make those records available to the board. Except where specified otherwise, livestock records must be retained for at least five years. Failing to produce records during a disease investigation can slow traceability efforts and expose your operation to regulatory action.
For exhibition animals specifically, ear tagging records must include: the characters on or contained within the ear tag; characters on or contained within other official ear tags on the animal; species, sex, age, and type of animal; date of application; and name and address of the premises where the animal was identified.
For questions about Minnesota’s animal traceability program, contact the Minnesota Board of Animal Health at 651-296-2942 or visit the BAH traceability page. You can also review the official ID page for tag format details and approved vendor lists. Producers moving animals across state lines regularly may also find value in reviewing Minnesota’s biosecurity requirements alongside these ear tag rules — the two programs work hand in hand during any disease response.