Swine Ear Notching Laws in Virginia: What Every Hog Producer Needs to Know

If you raise hogs in Virginia — whether for a purebred operation, a 4-H project, or a small homestead — understanding swine ear notching is one of the most practical things you can do for your herd management. Ear notching is a permanent, low-cost method of identifying individual pigs and their litters, and it has been used by American pork producers for generations.

What makes Virginia distinct is how state and federal regulations interact when it comes to whether a notch pattern actually qualifies as official identification. The answer is not always straightforward. Virginia’s rules under the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) Animal Disease Traceability Program, combined with USDA federal guidelines, determine when ear notching is enough — and when you need additional identification like an ear tag or tattoo.

This guide walks you through every aspect of swine ear notching as it applies to Virginia producers: the system itself, when it qualifies as official ID, how purebred registries factor in, and how it stacks up against other identification methods.

Important Note: This article provides general educational information about Virginia swine identification regulations. Always verify current requirements directly with VDACS or your accredited veterinarian before moving animals, as regulations can change.

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

Ear notching is a physical marking technique in which small V-shaped cuts are made in specific locations on a pig’s ears shortly after birth. Each position on each ear corresponds to a numeric value, and the combination of notches gives every pig a unique identification code. The practice is performed with a specialized ear notching tool, typically within the first few days of life.

Virginia hog producers use ear notching in several contexts. Purebred breeders rely on it to track litter and individual pig numbers for registry purposes. Livestock producers working with 4-H programs use it to enroll project animals. Small-scale and heritage breed farms use it as a cost-effective, permanent alternative to plastic ear tags that can fall out or be torn away. Ear notches help breeders maintain accurate records for registration and health records on the farm, including vaccination records.

In Virginia, the practice is most common among operations raising purebred breeds — Berkshire, Duroc, Hampshire, Yorkshire, and others — where breed registry compliance drives the need for permanent, readable identification from birth. When hunters or landowners encounter a hog in the field, visible marks such as tags, collars, or notched ears are key indicators that the animal may be a domestic pig rather than a feral one. That practical reality underscores how important visible, permanent ID is in the Commonwealth.

When Ear Notching Qualifies as Official Identification in Virginia

This is where Virginia producers need to pay close attention. Ear notching does not automatically count as official identification under state or federal law. Whether it qualifies depends entirely on the context in which your animals are moving and whether the notching has been formally recorded.

According to USDA APHIS, ear notching of any swine qualifies as an approved identification method only if the ear notching has been recorded in a purebred registry association’s book of record. This is the federal baseline, and Virginia’s regulations align with it.

Under Virginia Administrative Code 2VAC5-61-30, official identification for swine must be a unique and permanent group or individual identification number issued by an official state or federal program and applied to each animal, or other forms of identification approved by the State Veterinarian. Ear notching falls into the “other forms approved by the State Veterinarian” category — but only when it meets the registry-recording requirement.

For swine entering Virginia from another state, official identification for a swine shall be an ear tag or other affixed device bearing a unique individual or group identification number issued by an official state or federal program, or an official premises identification tattoo that includes the state of origin. This means that if you are importing breeding stock into Virginia, ear notching alone is generally not sufficient — you will typically need an ear tag or official tattoo as well.

Pro Tip: If you are buying purebred pigs from out of state, confirm with the seller that the animals carry both a registry-recorded ear notch AND an official USDA ear tag or tattoo before they leave the farm of origin. Virginia’s entry requirements under 2VAC5-141-120 are enforced at the point of arrival.

Swine entering Virginia must bear official identification and have a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) with the ID number noted. The one major exception: no CVI is required if swine are imported for immediate slaughter. For any other movement scenario — breeding stock, feeder pigs, show animals — official ID is required and must be documented.

How the 1-3-9 Ear Notching System Works

The universal ear notching system used across the United States — including by Virginia producers — is built on a simple numerical code applied to four quadrants of each ear. Understanding this system is essential whether you are notching your own piglets or reading the ID on an animal you have purchased.

The universal ear notching system is based on the fact that a pig has two ears. The pig’s right ear, as viewed from the rear of the pig, is designated as the “litter” ear. The pig’s left ear designates the pig number within the litter, so the first piglet is pig number one, the second is pig number two, and so on.

Each ear is divided into four quadrants, each representing a number. The outside bottom quadrant represents the number 1 — if there are two notches in that quadrant, the number is 1+1, or 2. There will never be more than two notches in any quadrant. The outside top quadrant represents the number 3, and the inside top quadrant represents the number 9.

In the litter ear only, the inside bottom quadrant represents the number 27. A notch in the very tip of the right ear signifies litter number 81. This tip notch essentially doubles the system, allowing producers with large numbers of sows to keep litter numbers unique across a full production year.

Reading a pig’s notch is straightforward once you know the system. Since confusion over which ear is the “left ear” can easily occur depending on whether you are viewing the pig from the front or the rear, a good way to remember is to always look the pig in the face — reading left to right will always give you litter number first, then pig number.

Ear	Purpose	Quadrant Values	Maximum Value
Right Ear (pig’s right)	Litter number	1, 3, 9, 27 + tip = 81	161 (with tip notch)
Left Ear (pig’s left)	Individual pig number	1, 3, 9	27

Here is a practical example: if you have a pig with the ear notch of 33-7, this would be made by placing two notches in the “3” location on the left ear and one notch in the “1” location (3+3+1=7). In the right ear, one notch would be placed in the “27” region and two notches in the “3” region (27+3+3=33).

The notching is performed with a V-shaped ear notcher tool, typically within the first three days of life while the ear tissue is still soft and the piglet is small enough to handle easily. All pigs in the same litter must have the same notches in the right ear. The left ear identifies individual pigs in the same litter, and all littermates must have different notches in the left ear.

Ear Notching for Purebred Registry Compliance in Virginia

For Virginia producers raising registered purebred swine, ear notching is not just a management tool — it is a registry requirement. Breed associations such as the National Swine Registry and Certified Pedigreed Swine (CPS) use the universal ear notching system as the primary method of permanent identification for registration purposes.

As required by the purebred swine associations of the United States, the litter number is notched in the pig’s right ear, and the individual pig number is notched in the pig’s left ear. The combination of both ears gives each pig a unique identity that can be read visually without any electronic equipment — a significant advantage in field conditions.

Ear notching qualifies as official identification for interstate movement if the ear notching has been recorded in the book of record of a purebred registry association. For Virginia breeders, this means that simply notching your pigs is not enough — you must also submit the litter registration paperwork to your breed association and receive a registration certificate that documents those notch patterns.

Breed registry tattoos must be recorded with a purebred registry association, and the registration certificate must accompany the animal. The same principle applies to ear notching: the physical mark on the pig and the paper record in the registry book must match. If you cannot produce that documentation, the notch pattern carries no official weight under federal or Virginia state regulations.

Key Insight: Virginia 4-H swine exhibitors should confirm with their county extension office whether ear notching alone satisfies show entry requirements or whether an official USDA ear tag is also needed. Many Virginia county fairs and state livestock shows require both.

January 1 and July 1 of each year are the starts of each farrowing season for CPS registry purposes, which means litter numbering cycles reset on those dates. Virginia producers enrolled in CPS or similar associations should track farrowing seasons carefully to avoid duplicate litter numbers within the same registration period.

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

Virginia producers have several identification options available, and the right choice depends on your operation type, whether your animals move interstate, and whether you participate in a breed registry. Here is how ear notching compares to the other primary methods recognized by VDACS and USDA.

Method	Permanent?	Official ID for Interstate?	Registry Compliance?	Best For
Ear Notching	Yes	Only if registry-recorded	Yes (purebred)	Purebred breeders, 4-H, heritage farms
Official Ear Tag (840-series)	Yes (unless lost)	Yes	No (not registry-specific)	All commercial and interstate movement
RFID (840-series electronic)	Yes	Yes	No	Large operations, traceability programs
Tattoo (ear or inner flank)	Yes	Only if registry-recorded	Yes (some registries)	Purebred breeders, slaughter channels

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, through its Office of Veterinary Services, collaborates with USDA on the official identification of livestock. Official identification tags are regulated by state and federal animal health officials to ensure unique and standardized animal identification is available to support animal health programs and rapid response to disease events.

For most commercial Virginia swine operations, the 840-series ear tag is the workhorse of official identification. “840” is the international livestock code for the USA and is the preferred type of tag for most animals moving in interstate or international commerce. Official 840-series swine tags are available from online vendors, and VDACS can provide official metal swine tags at no cost to producers.

RFID tags offer an additional layer of traceability. Virginia’s Animal Disease Traceability program utilizes electronically readable identification tags (RFID), field data collection devices, and geographic information systems, while maintaining electronic records of all official identification tags distributed and related regulatory information. If your operation moves large numbers of animals or participates in disease surveillance programs, RFID is worth the upfront investment in readers and software.

Tattoos on the ear or inner flank of any swine qualify as official identification if the tattoos have been recorded in the book of record of a swine registry association. Like ear notching, a tattoo without registry documentation carries no official weight. The key advantage of tattoos over ear tags is that they cannot fall out — but they require a tattoo kit, ink, and more time to apply legibly than a simple notch.

For Virginia producers moving animals to neighboring states, check destination requirements carefully. Virginia swine producers moving animals to North Carolina should be aware that North Carolina has an identification requirement for all swine being transported on public roads. Requirements vary by state, so confirm with the destination state’s animal health authority before any interstate shipment.

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

Virginia’s swine identification framework sits at the intersection of state administrative code, USDA federal regulations, and the practical requirements of breed registries. Understanding all three layers helps you stay compliant regardless of what you are doing with your animals — whether selling at a local livestock market, showing at a county fair, or shipping breeding stock across state lines.

All livestock should be identified with official ID tags or other approved identification before moving to a public sale, event, or across state lines. The exact requirements vary with the species, type of animals, and type of movement. For swine specifically, this means ear notching may satisfy some situations but not others, and you need to know the difference before your animals leave your farm.

One of Virginia’s most important identification infrastructure tools is the Premises Identification Number (PIN). A PIN is a unique identifier assigned to a specific location where livestock or poultry are housed. In Virginia, this number helps VDACS track regulatory activities, and an official PIN is required to receive official ID tags from VDACS or to purchase 840-series tags from authorized private vendors. If you do not yet have a PIN for your farm, registering with VDACS should be your first step before acquiring any official identification tags.

Many livestock shows and state fairs in Virginia also require exhibitors to have a registered PIN. A premises ID number supports animal disease traceability in Virginia, ensures faster response and containment in the event of a disease outbreak, and is critical for maintaining public and animal health.

Virginia also has specific disease testing requirements that interact with identification rules. A sexually intact swine over four months of age not originating from a herd or region considered free of brucellosis by a federal or state program must be individually subject to a brucellosis test and found negative within 30 days prior to entry into Virginia. A swine not originating from a herd or region considered free from pseudorabies by a federal or state program must also be individually subject to a pseudorabies test and found negative within 30 days prior to entry. These testing requirements apply regardless of what identification method the animal carries.

Feral hog identification rules add another layer of context. Feral hogs in Virginia are defined as “any swine that are wild or for which no proof of ownership can be made” and are designated as a nuisance species under the Code of Virginia (§29.1-100) and Virginia Administrative Code 4VAC15-20-160. A properly ear-notched pig with registry documentation is clearly a domestic animal — which is why maintaining your records matters not just for compliance, but for protecting your property.

Official identification shall not be altered or removed under Virginia Administrative Code. Tampering with an ear notch pattern, removing an ear tag, or altering a tattoo is a regulatory violation. If you purchase an animal with existing identification, you are responsible for preserving that identification and reporting it accurately on any health certificates or movement documents.

Pro Tip: Contact VDACS’s Office of Veterinary Services at 804-692-0600 or your regional VDACS office to request official metal swine tags at no cost. Pairing those tags with your registry-recorded ear notches gives you both official ID and breed documentation — covering all your bases for intrastate movement, shows, and interstate sales.

If you raise other livestock alongside your hogs, Virginia’s identification rules apply differently to each species. You can learn more about related livestock regulations through resources on goat ownership laws in Virginia and rooster laws in Virginia, which cover other common farm animals subject to state oversight. For broader animal law context in the region, goat ownership laws in West Virginia offer a useful comparison for producers operating near the state line.

Virginia producers who also deal with companion animals or working dogs on their farm properties should be aware that the state maintains separate regulatory frameworks for those animals. Resources covering dog leash laws in Virginia and dog bite laws in Virginia are relevant if you use livestock guardian or farm dogs as part of your swine operation.

The bottom line for Virginia swine producers is this: ear notching remains a valid, practical, and legally recognized identification method — but only within a specific set of conditions. Keep your registry paperwork current, obtain a Premises Identification Number, and pair your ear notches with official USDA tags whenever your animals move off your property for any purpose other than immediate slaughter. That combination keeps you compliant with Virginia Administrative Code 2VAC5-141-120 and the USDA APHIS swine identification guidelines at the same time.