Swine Ear Notching Laws in Kansas: Rules, Registry Requirements, and Official ID Standards
August 6, 2026
If you raise pigs in Kansas — whether for a county fair, a purebred breeding program, or interstate sale — ear notching is one of the first identification decisions you will face. A small V-cut placed in the right location on a piglet’s ear can serve as a permanent, low-cost record that follows the animal for life. But Kansas law and federal regulation draw a clear line between a notch that counts as official identification and one that does not.
Understanding where that line falls protects you from compliance problems at livestock markets, state exhibitions, and the Kansas border. This guide walks through exactly when ear notching qualifies as official ID in Kansas, how the universal 1-3-9 system works, what purebred registry compliance requires, and how notching stacks up against ear tags, tattoos, and RFID chips under current state and federal rules.
What Is Swine Ear Notching and When It Is Used in Kansas
Ear notching is a permanent identification method for pigs that uses V-shaped cuts placed in specific zones of each ear. An accurate set of records on swine performance is one of the best management tools a producer can have, and keeping those records requires the ability to identify pigs from birth. Ear notching is the most direct way to build that identification into the animal itself from day one.
The simplest method and the one recommended by most breed associations is ear notching, and the most common notching system is the 1-3-9 system. Kansas producers use it across three main contexts: on-farm herd management, purebred registry enrollment, and official animal identification for movement and exhibition purposes.
Time for notching is an important factor. If pigs can be notched when their tails are docked, or at 1–3 days old, the task is much easier. If you allow pigs to become large (100 lbs), the task can become considerably demanding mentally and physically. If notching ears on older or larger pigs, it may be necessary to house them in separate pens until the notches heal.
In Kansas, ear notching appears in 4-H swine projects, county fair exhibitions, and registered breed programs for breeds such as Duroc, Hampshire, Yorkshire, and Berkshire. Kansas State University’s Animal Sciences and Industry department has published ear notching guides specifically for youth livestock programs in the state, reflecting how deeply embedded the practice is in Kansas swine culture. You can also find related livestock regulations covered in resources like backyard chicken laws in Kansas and rooster crowing laws in Kansas, which illustrate how the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) approaches animal identification and management across species.
Pro Tip: Notch piglets during the same handling session as tail docking and navel care. Doing the notch last is smart — as the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension notes, ear notching tends to cause more bleeding than other procedures, so finishing with it keeps earlier work clean.
When Ear Notching Qualifies as Official Identification in Kansas
Not every ear notch automatically counts as official identification under Kansas law. The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) specifies which methods its Animal Health Commissioner approves, and a registered ear notch is explicitly on that list — but only under defined conditions.
Official identification must be listed on the accompanying Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI). The identification method must be a method approved by the animal health commissioner — including an official USDA ear tag, breed registration tattoo with breed registration papers accompanying the CVI to the state office, microchip, or registered ear notch.
The phrase “registered ear notch” is the operative term. A notch that has not been recorded with a recognized breed registry does not satisfy Kansas’s official ID requirement. All animals, except steers and spayed heifers, must be individually identified by official breed registration tattoo or tag, USDA metal ear tag, or breed association ear notch for swine. That rule applies to swine shown at Kansas county fairs and state exhibitions.
Under federal regulation 9 CFR § 71.19, ear notching qualifies as official identification for swine in interstate commerce when the ear notching has been recorded in the book of record of a purebred registry association. Kansas mirrors this federal standard. If you plan to move registered breeding stock across state lines into or out of Kansas, your ear notch must be backed by current registry paperwork — and that paperwork must accompany the animal’s CVI.
Important Note: A notch used purely for on-farm litter tracking is not the same as a registered ear notch for official ID purposes. If your pig will ever move to a sale barn, exhibition, or another state, confirm the notch is recorded with your breed registry before transport.
How the 1-3-9 Ear Notching System Works
The 1-3-9 system is the universal standard used by Kansas producers, 4-H programs, and purebred registries across the United States. Once you understand its logic, you can read any pig’s litter and individual number at a glance.
The right ear is used for the litter mark, and all pigs in the same litter must have the same notches in this 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.
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, so if there are two notches in all four zones, that represents Litter 80. A notch in zone 81 basically doubles the system. This means the litter ear can encode numbers well beyond 160, giving large commercial operations more than enough range.
To determine the litter number for a pig, add the numerical values assigned to each notch. The same additive logic applies to the individual pig ear. The reference to left and right ear refers to the pig’s left or right ear, as viewed from the rear of the pig — left and right does not refer to the viewer’s left or right in a situation where the pig is facing the viewer.
| Ear | Purpose | Zones Available | Max Notches per Zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right ear (pig’s right) | Litter number | 1, 3, 9, 27, 81 | 2 per zone (except 81: 1 only) |
| Left ear (pig’s left) | Individual pig number | 1, 3, 9 | 2 per zone |
Small notchers typically make a notch that is 3/16 to 1/4 inch deep, which is the preferable size for pigs under 25 pounds. For larger pigs, a notcher that makes notches 1/2 inch deep is recommended. Avoid making notches too shallow, as they may become hard to read or possibly heal shut. Leave at least 1/4 inch between notches and avoid making notches too close to the head.
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 — read left-to-right, and it will always be litter number then pig number. The New Mexico State University Extension ear notching guide and the Purdue Extension swine reference guide both provide detailed diagrams if you need visual reinforcement of zone placement.
Ear Notching for Purebred Registry Compliance in Kansas
If you raise registered Duroc, Hampshire, Yorkshire, Berkshire, or other purebred swine in Kansas, ear notching for registry compliance involves a specific chain of documentation — not just the physical notch itself.
Ear notches, using the Universal Ear Notching System, must be recorded with a breed registry association, and breed registration papers must accompany the animals. This is the condition that converts a simple farm notch into an official identification method recognized by Kansas and federal authorities.
The right ear is used for litter mark, and all pigs in the same litter must have the same notches in the right ear. When you submit a litter registration to your breed association — whether that is the National Swine Registry or the Certified Pedigreed Swine organization — the notch pattern you report becomes the permanent record tied to that animal’s pedigree. Any mismatch between the physical ear and the recorded notch can create registration problems and disqualify the pig from official ID status.
Ear notches are typically made within the first few days of birth. Ear notches help breeders maintain accurate records in regards to registration and in regards to health records on the farm, such as vaccination records. Filing that registration promptly after farrowing keeps your paperwork current and avoids gaps that could complicate movement documentation later.
Pro Tip: Keep a physical copy of breed registration papers in a waterproof folder with each animal’s health certificate. Kansas rules require these papers to accompany the CVI when a registered ear notch is used as official identification — a missing document at a weigh-in or border checkpoint can delay or block movement.
Kansas 4-H swine exhibitors should note that the Kansas State University Animal Sciences and Industry program provides ear notching guides specifically aligned with show requirements. If you are preparing a pig for the Kansas State Fair or a county fair, confirm with your county extension office that your notch pattern matches what is recorded on your registration papers before the event. You can find additional context on Kansas livestock exhibition rules by reviewing rooster laws in Kansas or goat ownership laws in Arkansas for a comparative look at how neighboring states handle livestock ID for exhibition.
Ear Notching vs. Ear Tags, Tattoos, and RFID in Kansas
Ear notching is one of several methods Kansas accepts as official swine identification, but each method has different strengths, limitations, and applicable scenarios. Knowing when each method applies helps you choose the right tool for the right situation.
| ID Method | Accepted for Official ID in Kansas? | Registry Requirement | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered ear notch | Yes | Must be recorded with purebred registry | Breeding stock, exhibition, interstate movement |
| USDA metal ear tag / 840 EID tag | Yes | Premises ID number required | Commercial, feeder, slaughter, exhibition swine |
| Breed registration tattoo | Yes | Recorded with registry; papers must accompany CVI | Breeding and exhibition swine |
| Microchip (RFID implant) | Yes (approved by KDA) | Must comply with ISO 11784/11785 AIN “840” standard | Pet pigs, mini pigs, exhibition animals |
| Premises tattoo (PIN-based) | Yes (slaughter/feeder channels) | Premises ID number required | Slaughter swine, feeder swine |
USDA APHIS announced an initiative to provide no-cost EID tags for swine beginning fall 2025. These EID tags are available for sow and exhibition swine producers. Producers can order tags through the Merck Animal Health website, and the tags are intended for use in the sow and exhibition swine sectors. This program makes RFID tagging more accessible for Kansas producers who exhibit swine at county fairs and state shows.
Without official identification, animal health officials’ ability to accurately trace an animal’s movements can take months or may never be achieved. Official ear tags provide the opportunity to conduct a disease investigation from two points of reference rather than just one. That traceability argument is why Kansas, like most states, enforces official ID requirements strictly at livestock markets and state borders.
For commercial feeder and slaughter operations, ear notching is rarely the practical choice. Tattoos on the ear or inner flank of any swine qualify if they have been recorded in the book of record of a swine registry association. For slaughter swine and feeder swine, 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 the standard method. Ear notching’s official ID value is concentrated in the purebred and exhibition sectors, not in commercial finishing operations. You can explore how Kansas handles other livestock-related rules at beekeeping laws in Kansas and hedgehog ownership laws in Kansas for a broader picture of KDA’s regulatory approach to animal management.
State-Specific Swine Identification Rules That Affect Ear Notching in Kansas
Kansas swine identification rules operate on two levels: state regulations administered by the KDA Division of Animal Health and federal regulations under USDA APHIS. Understanding how they interact prevents compliance gaps, especially if you move animals across state lines.
Swine imported into Kansas from another state must be accompanied by a completed Certificate of Veterinary Inspection signed by an accredited veterinarian. The CVI must have been issued within 30 days prior to the animal’s movement into Kansas. Swine entering Kansas from a Swine Brucellosis Free state and Pseudorabies Stage V (free) state do not require brucellosis or pseudorabies testing. Swine that have been vaccinated for pseudorabies will not be allowed to enter Kansas.
As of November 1, 2020, all 50 states are free of brucellosis and pseudorabies, which simplifies the disease-testing burden for most interstate movement into Kansas today. However, the identification documentation requirement remains in full effect regardless of disease-free status.
At Kansas livestock markets and occasional livestock sales, state administrative regulations impose additional record-keeping obligations. Each public livestock market operator or representative shall apply official identification at the consignor’s expense before the swine may be offered for sale, unless the swine is officially identified with an approved means of official identification before arrival at the market. When a swine is officially identified at the market, the operator shall keep a record for two years from the date of the sale.
For exhibition swine specifically, all animals, including swine, shall be free of clinical signs of infectious or contagious disease and must be accompanied by a health certificate issued within 30 days of exhibit. All animals, except steers and spayed heifers, must be individually identified by official breed registration tattoo or tag, USDA metal ear tag, or breed association ear notch for swine.
Kansas producers with Premises Identification Numbers (PINs) should also stay current with KDA’s EID tag programs. Kansas accredited veterinarians and Kansas livestock markets may be able to obtain free 840 tags and applicators from KDA when available. Contact the KDA Division of Animal Health at 785-564-6606 to confirm current tag availability and your premises registration status. For a broader look at how Kansas regulates animal movement and ownership, see hunting laws in Kansas, roadkill laws in Kansas, and neighbor’s cat in my yard laws in Kansas.
Key Insight: Kansas K.A.R. 9-15-2, updated in late 2024, eliminated the restriction that ear marks must be recorded at the time of original brand registration and removed the fee requirement for recording ear marks on subsequent brand registrations. This change, noted in the Kansas Secretary of State Register (November 2024), streamlines the process of adding ear marks to an existing brand record — useful for producers who manage both cattle brands and swine ear notch records under the same KDA registration.
The bottom line for Kansas swine producers: ear notching remains a fully valid and state-recognized identification method, but its official status depends entirely on registry enrollment and documentation. A notch without paperwork is a farm management tool. A notch recorded with your breed association and backed by a current CVI is official identification that satisfies Kansas state law, federal interstate commerce rules under 9 CFR § 71.19, and the USDA APHIS National Veterinary Accreditation Program standards. Keep your registry papers current, file litter registrations promptly after farrowing, and confirm your identification method with your accredited veterinarian before any movement or exhibition event.