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

If you raise cattle, bison, sheep, goats, swine, or horses in Montana, official ear tag rules affect nearly every animal that leaves your property. Getting identification wrong before an interstate move or a sale can mean fines, turned-away loads, or a disease investigation that traces back to your operation.

This guide walks you through every layer of Montana’s livestock ear tag requirements — from the federal RFID mandate that took effect in November 2024 to species-specific rules, where to buy compliant tags, how to apply them correctly, and what records you must keep on hand.

Which Animals Require Official Ear Tags in Montana

Not every animal on your Montana ranch needs an official government-issued ear tag, but the list of covered animals is broader than many producers expect. The requirements are triggered by species, age, sex, and the purpose of movement.

Cattle and bison that must be officially identified when moving interstate include all sexually intact animals 18 months of age or older, all dairy cattle, cattle and bison of any age used for rodeo or recreational events, and cattle or bison of any age used for shows or exhibitions. These categories have not changed under the 2024 federal rule — only the type of tag required changed.

All horses and other equines moved interstate must be officially identified prior to movement using a description sufficient to identify the individual animal — including name, age, breed, color, gender, distinctive markings, and unique permanent forms of identification such as brands, tattoos, or biometric measurements — or an ISO-compliant electronic identification device such as a microchip.

For sheep and goats, accepted official identification includes an official 840 RFID tag or a scrapie tag bearing both a flock number and an individual animal number. Swine may use an official 840 RFID tag or a metal NUES tag. Feeder cattle and animals moving directly to slaughter under specific conditions are generally exempt from the RFID tag requirement, though they may still need a backtag or owner-shipper statement.

Pro Tip: Even if your animals are exempt from official ID for a particular move, Montana’s brand inspection requirements still apply to cattle and horses crossing a county line or leaving the state. Keep both sets of rules in mind before loading.

Federal RFID Ear Tag Rule: What Changed in November 2024

The single biggest shift in livestock identification in decades took effect on November 5, 2024. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service amended the animal disease traceability regulations to require that ear tags applied on or after that date be both visually and electronically readable in order to be recognized as official ear tags for interstate movement of covered cattle and bison.

The rule requiring newly applied cattle and bison official ID tags to have both a visual and electronic component went into effect on November 5, 2024, and currently the only official tags that meet these requirements are 840 RFID tags. Plain visual metal tags — the silver “bright” clip tags that Montana producers used for decades — are no longer accepted as official ID for any tag applied after that date.

Cattle tagged with a metal tag or a plastic, non-RFID official identification tag prior to that date are grandfathered in. Cattle tagged with visual-only official tags prior to November 5, 2024, do not need to be retagged unless they lose their ID. If a grandfathered tag falls out, however, the replacement must be an 840 RFID tag.

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.

Important Note: The November 2024 rule applies only to cattle and bison. Sheep, goats, swine, and equines follow separate identification standards described in the species-specific section below.

Official 840 RFID Ear Tag Requirements in Montana

Understanding what makes a tag “official” prevents costly compliance mistakes. Official EID tags are USDA-approved tags that carry a visible 15-digit number starting with 840 printed on them that matches the electronic chip inside the tag, are stamped with the US shield, and say “unlawful to remove.”

The USDA rule mandates that official identification for interstate movement of certain cattle and bison must be both visually and electronically readable — in practice, ear tags embedded with RFID chips bearing a unique 15-digit number beginning with “840,” the U.S. country code. The “840” prefix is what distinguishes a U.S.-issued tag from a foreign-origin tag.

Montana producers also need a Premises Identification Number (PIN) or Location Identifier (LID) before purchasing official tags. These unique codes are permanently assigned to a single physical location, allowing animal health officials to quickly and precisely identify where animals are in the event of an animal health or food safety emergency — and you must have a PIN or LID to purchase official electronic animal identification tags.

Two tag formats are available and both count as official:

• All-in-one tags — a single tag piece containing both the RFID chip and the printed 15-digit AIN, applied to one ear.
• Matched pair tags — a visual tag and a separate EID button tag bearing the same AIN number, which provides a backup if one tag is lost.

Currently, the only EID technology 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 for interstate movement.

Species-Specific Ear Tag Rules in Montana

Montana’s identification requirements vary significantly by species. Applying the wrong tag type — or no tag at all — can result in animals being turned back at the state line or held at a livestock facility.

Cattle and Domestic Bison: As described above, any tag applied after November 5, 2024, must be an 840 RFID tag. Cattle and domestic bison originating from Montana’s Disease Surveillance Area (DSA) have additional identification requirements beyond the standard federal rule. Contact the Montana Department of Livestock Animal Health Bureau at (406) 444-2976 to confirm DSA-specific obligations before moving these animals.

Sheep and Goats: For sheep and goats, accepted official identification includes an official 840 RFID tag or a scrapie tag that carries both a flock number and an individual animal number. Scrapie program tags remain a valid option for this species. All sheep must have official scrapie ID tags to enter Montana exhibitions and fairs.

Swine: For swine, an official 840 RFID tag or a metal NUES tag is accepted as official identification. There are no brand or transportation permit requirements for hogs in Montana, but official ID is still required for interstate movement under federal ADT rules.

Horses and Equines: Equines do not use ear tags as their primary official identification. A description sufficient to identify the individual equine — including name, age, breed, color, gender, distinctive markings, and unique permanent forms of identification such as brands, tattoos, scars, or biometric measurements — or an ISO-compliant electronic identification device such as a microchip satisfies the official ID requirement.

Alternative Livestock (Elk, Deer, Bison in captivity): Montana regulates alternative livestock separately. Livestock must be tagged by an alternative livestock veterinarian. The owner retains a copy of each SV-13C tagging form, and veterinarians and owners must retain copies for five years from the date of the tagging event.

Species	Accepted Official ID	Applied After Nov. 5, 2024?
Cattle & Bison	840 RFID ear tag only	Must be 840 RFID
Sheep & Goats	840 RFID tag or scrapie flock/individual tag	Either type accepted
Swine	840 RFID tag or metal NUES tag	Either type accepted
Horses & Equines	ISO microchip or physical description	No ear tag required
Alternative Livestock	Tags applied by licensed alt. livestock vet	Vet-applied tags required

Where to Get Official Ear Tags in Montana

You have several options for sourcing compliant 840 RFID tags in Montana. Knowing which channel works best for your operation can save both time and money.

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. 840 RFID tags cost between $2 and $5 per tag, depending on the manufacturer, tag style, and order quantity.

Free tags from federal allocations are another option, though supply is not guaranteed. 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. Call the Montana Department of Livestock Animal Health Bureau at (406) 444-2976 to check whether free tags are currently available.

A Premises ID is required to purchase USDA tags, and these tags are ideal for cattle moving extensively, especially across state lines. If you do not yet have a PIN or LID registered to your Montana property, contact the Montana Department of Livestock to register your premises before placing a tag order.

Pro Tip: Order tags well before your planned shipping date. During peak branding and shipping seasons in Montana — typically May through October — approved manufacturers and distributors can experience delays of one to two weeks on large orders.

How and When to Apply Ear Tags in Montana

Proper tag placement protects the tag’s longevity and keeps your animals officially identified through the full course of their movement history. A tag that falls out because it was placed incorrectly can trigger a retagging requirement at the worst possible time.

USDA recommends applying ear tags in the left ear, leaving the right ear for official use such as brucellosis vaccination tags. All ear tags should be placed two-thirds of the way from the outside edge of the ear, and one-third of the way from the head between the middle two cartilage ribs.

Timing matters as much as placement. Beef animals required to have RFID tags include those that are sexually intact and 18 months or older, used for rodeo or recreational events regardless of age, or used for shows or exhibitions — and the tags should be applied at birth or before the animal moves off the ranch in interstate commerce. Tagging at birth is the best practice because it avoids the scramble of identifying animals immediately before a sale or shipment.

For brucellosis vaccination, the tag placement protocol is different. The official brucellosis identification is an orange RFID button tag placed in the right ear by the herd veterinarian at the time of vaccination. This tag is separate from the standard 840 identification tag in the left ear.

When applying matched-pair tags, keep both pieces together until application. Matched pair livestock tags are sets that include a visual tag and an electronic ID tag, and what makes them “matched” is that the EID number is printed on both tags — which helps in the event that one tag is lost from the animal’s ear, since there is still another form of identification.

Ear Tag Requirements for Interstate Movement in Montana

Moving livestock across state lines from Montana involves both federal identification rules and state-level paperwork requirements. Missing either layer can result in animals being held or turned back.

Cattle and bison moved interstate must be accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection (ICVI) unless they are moved directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment, or to an approved livestock facility and then directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment, accompanied by an owner-shipper statement.

Animals moving as a commuter herd have a separate pathway. Under a commuter herd agreement between a livestock owner and State or Tribal animal health officials, cattle and bison may be moved interstate between two premises without a change of ownership in the course of normal livestock operations, subject to the conditions of the agreement. This is common for Montana ranchers whose grazing allotments cross state borders with Wyoming or Idaho.

For animals that are required to be officially identified, the official identification number must be recorded on the ICVI unless animals are moved from an approved livestock facility directly to slaughter. Make sure your accredited veterinarian records the full 15-digit AIN from each tag on the health certificate before the truck leaves.

Slaughter-bound animals have a limited exception. Animals moved directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment, or directly to no more than one approved livestock facility and then directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment where they are harvested within 3 days of arrival, may move with a USDA-approved backtag rather than a full 840 RFID tag.

Montana also requires brand inspection for cattle and horses before crossing a county line or leaving the state. Review the full details in our guide to brand inspection requirements in Montana to make sure your paperwork is complete before loading day. If you’re also hauling animals to neighboring states, check the livestock trailer rules for Wyoming, Idaho, and South Dakota — all common destination states for Montana producers.

Important Note: Montana law (MCA 81-2-703) requires that all animals brought into Montana be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. This also applies to Montana livestock returning from out-of-state shows, and import permits are only required for handwritten paper CVIs.

Recordkeeping Requirements for Ear-Tagged Animals in Montana

Tagging an animal is only half the compliance equation. The records tied to that tag number are what allow animal health officials to trace a disease exposure within 48 hours — and what protect you from liability if your animals are caught up in an investigation.

When disease is discovered at a farm, processing plant, or market, animal records tell officials what animals may have been exposed and where they went or came from. Tag information is recorded when tags are applied, at selling points, when official movements are recorded, and when a disease investigation is being conducted.

For standard cattle and bison operations, your records should include:

• The full 15-digit AIN from each 840 RFID tag applied to your animals
• The date each tag was applied and the premises where it was applied
• The date and destination of each interstate movement
• Copies of all ICVIs and owner-shipper statements
• Records of any animals that lost a tag and were retagged, including both the original and replacement AIN

The 2024 federal rule also revised and clarified certain record retention and record access requirements for cattle and bison. Under 9 CFR Part 86, producers, veterinarians, and livestock facilities are required to make records available to USDA and state animal health officials upon request.

For alternative livestock operations in Montana, the recordkeeping obligation is more specific. Two copies of the SV-13C tagging form must be submitted to the Montana Department of Livestock Animal Health Bureau within 5 days of the tagging event; one copy goes to the alternative livestock veterinarian who supplied the tags; and the owner retains the last copy. Both veterinarians and owners must retain copies of each SV-13C for five years from the date of the tagging event.

An EID reader is not required by regulation, but EID readers allow for quick and accurate scanning of electronic ID tags chuteside, facilitating efficient data collection. For larger Montana operations processing hundreds of head per year, investing in a reader and compatible recordkeeping software pays for itself quickly in time saved during weigh-ups and pre-shipping sorting.

If you move livestock to other states regularly, it also helps to understand the trailer and transport compliance rules in those states. Our guides cover Nevada, Colorado, Oregon, and Kansas — all states that receive Montana livestock shipments. You can also find Montana-specific licensing information in our article on fishing license requirements in Montana if your operation includes recreational activities on your land.

Staying current with Montana Department of Livestock updates is the most reliable way to catch rule changes before they affect your operation. Bookmark the Montana DOL Traceability page and sign up for email alerts from USDA APHIS to receive notice of any future amendments to the federal ADT rule.