New to livestock identification? We’re Here to Help!

If you’re unsure about which tags are right for your livestock, don’t hesitate to reach out. Call our expert customer service team at 01765 530296 for guidance, or browse our selection below to learn more.

What tags do I need for sheep?

Sheep tag rules England & Wales

Breeding Sheep

Sheep which are being kept beyond 12 months must be identified with 1 Electronic Tag and one Visual Tag – both tags must have your unique flock mark (with a zero in front) followed by a five digit animal number.

The Electronic tag must be Yellow and the visual tag can be any colour except Yellow, Red or black. It is recommended that the Electronic
tag is placed in the animals left ear.

Replacement Identifiers applied off the holding of birth must be Red (including replacement EID identifiers)

Slaughter Lambs

From 1st Jan 2015 – Sheep which are going to slaughter within 12 months of birth must have an Electronic Slaughter tag printed with your flock mark on the tag and the individual number contained in the electronic chip. Any un-used non-EID slaughter tags must be disposed of.

  •  Electronic Slaughter tags must be Yellow

Reserved Colours for Tags:

Yellow – Used only for Electronic tag

Red – Used only for replacement tags (including replacement electronic tags)

Black – Used only for ear tags where the sheep has an EID bolus

Sheep tag rules Scotland

Breeding Sheep

Sheep which are being kept beyond 12 months must be identified with 1
Electronic Tag and one Visual Tag – both tags must have your unique flock mark (with a zero in front) followed by a five digit animal number.

The Electronic & Visual tag can be any colour except Red or black. It is recommended that the Electronic tag is placed in the animals left ear.

Replacement Identifiers applied off the holding of birth must be Red (including replacement EID identifiers)

Slaughter Lambs

These animals are identified by a single electronic batch tag, known as a slaughter tag, although you can use two identifiers as for fully EID identified animals if you want to. The electronic slaughter tag only has the flock mark printed on the outside of the tag.

  • Electronic Slaughter tags can be any colour except Red or Black

Reserved Colours for Sheep Tags:

Black – Used only for ear tags where the sheep has an EID bolus

Red – Used only for replacement tags (including replacement electronic tags)

The EID identifier in Scotland can be any colour, however, we recommend that you use yellow to follow the position in England, Wales & Northern Ireland who have reserved this colour for EID identifiers. You should check with your purchasers and suppliers for any preferences they may have.

What tags do I need for cattle?

Cattle tag rules

New Tags     

Every newborn calf must have an ear tag in each ear showing the same unique identity number. This number is made up of:                  

  • A herd mark and an animal number

Calves must be tagged within the following deadlines:

  • Dairy Farmers – you must fit 1 ear tag within 36 hours of a calf’s birth. You are allowed up to 20 days from birth to fit the second tag
  • Beef Farmers – You have up to 20 days from birth to fit both tags

Both tags must be fitted before the animal moves off the holding of birth

The tags used for double tagging are known as the primary and secondary tag.        

  • The ‘primary’ tag may be put in either ear. Primary tags are yellow, distance-readable tags – Large or Medium
  • The ‘secondary’ tags must have the same information as the primary tag, but may also contain management information. The secondary tag must be in the other ear from the primary tag – Large, Medium or Button

Replacement Tags 

You must replace lost or illegible tags as soon as possible but no later than 28 days after you notice the loss or damage.

Animals born or imported after 1 January 1998 must keep their  unique identity for life. So lost tags must be replaced with another tag showing the same identification number.

What tags do I need for pig?

Pig tag rules

Pigs should be identified with either an ear tag with the letters ‘UK’ followed by the keepers herd mark or a tattoo showing that herd mark (with or without the letters ‘UK’)

Ear tags and tattoos must be:

  • Easy to read during the pig’s lifetime
  • Made of either metal or plastic or a combination of both
  • Tamper-resistant
  • Incapable of re-use
  • Sufficiently heat-resistant that neither the ear tag nor the information printed or stamped on it can be damaged by the processing of the carcase following slaughter; and
  • Designed to remain attached to the pig without harming it.
  • A tattoo must be applied either by tattoo forceps, in which case it must be on an ear, or by slap-marking equipment, in which case it must be on each shoulder and must, in either case, be easy to read.

Tags: sheep, cattle, pig tags rules