Agriculture & Farming

Identify and tag livestock correctly

Legal requirements for identifying and tagging cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and deer. Includes species-specific tagging deadlines, tag specifications, passport requirements, and replacement rules.

UK-wide
Guide summary

You must tag your cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, or deer with approved identification before moving them off your farm. Tagging deadlines vary by animal type. Cattle need two ear tags and a passport. Sheep and goats need electronic tags.

  • Tag cattle within 20 days of birth (36 hours for dairy calves)
  • Apply for cattle passports by day 27
  • Use two approved ear tags for cattle
  • Tag sheep and goats before 9 months or before moving
  • Use electronic ID tags for sheep born after 2009
  • Tag pigs before moving off holding
  • Register poultry flocks of 50+ birds
  • Report lost tags immediately
  • Cannot move untagged animals except for vet treatment
  • Electronic cattle tags mandatory from 2027
On this page
UK-wide

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All livestock keepers in the UK must identify their animals with approved tags or identification methods before moving them off their holding. Livestock identification is a legal requirement that supports disease control, traceability, and food safety.

Requirements vary by species, age, and purpose (breeding vs slaughter). This guide covers cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and deer identification rules. You must comply with these requirements even if you only keep a small number of animals.

Key tagging deadlines

All livestock must be tagged within specific timeframes:

Who must identify livestock

You must identify livestock if you:

  • Keep any cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, or deer (including single animals or pets)
  • Breed animals for sale or your own use
  • Buy animals to fatten for slaughter
  • Move animals between holdings
  • Take animals to shows, sales, or markets

The only general exception is animals going directly for emergency veterinary treatment, though species-specific exemptions may apply.

Cattle identification and tagging

Cattle identification is the most strictly regulated of all livestock species. Every bovine animal must be double-tagged with two approved ear tags in both ears and have a passport before moving off your holding.

Tag specifications and placement

All cattle (including calves, cows, bulls, buffalo, and bison) must wear two ear tags displaying the same unique identification number:

When to tag cattle

Tagging deadlines differ for dairy and beef cattle. Dairy calves must be tagged faster because they're identified sooner for milk recording purposes:

Critical rule: If a calf needs to move before 20 days old (for example, to another farm or to a market), both tags must be fitted before movement, even if the calf is only a few days old. You cannot move an untagged calf under any circumstances except for emergency veterinary treatment.

Cattle passports

Every bovine animal must have a passport issued by the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS). The passport travels with the animal throughout its life and must be handed to the slaughterhouse when the animal is slaughtered.

Why the deadline matters: If you apply for a passport late (after day 27), BCMS will not issue a passport. Instead, they'll send a Notice of Registration. Animals with Notices instead of passports cannot enter the food chain, cannot be sold (except to hunt kennels or knacker's yards), and can only move under special licence. This effectively makes the animal commercially worthless.

Future requirement: Cattle EID from 2027

From 2027, cattle identification requirements will change to include electronic identification:

Further details on EID tag specifications, suppliers, and implementation guidance will be published by Defra before the 2027 effective date. Current double-tagging requirements remain in force until then.

Sheep identification and tagging

Sheep born after 31 December 2009 must have electronic identification (EID) tags. The number and type of tags required depends on whether the sheep is kept for breeding or going for slaughter before 12 months of age.

When to tag sheep

Tagging deadlines depend on whether sheep are kept indoors or outdoors:

Slaughter lambs vs breeding sheep: If you're certain a lamb will go for slaughter before reaching 12 months old, you only need one yellow EID tag. However, if you change your mind and keep it for breeding or it doesn't go for slaughter by 12 months, you must add a second identifier before it reaches 12 months. Many keepers tag all lambs with double identification from birth to avoid this complication.

Understanding EID tag format

Electronic ID tags contain a microchip that stores the individual animal's number. The tag displays this information visually as well:

Format: UK 0 XXXXXX YYYYY

  • UK: Country code
  • 0: Indicates this is an EID tag (the '0' is the EID indicator)
  • XXXXXX: Your 6-digit flock mark (unique to your holding)
  • YYYYY: Individual animal number (5 digits, sequential)

The microchip contains the full individual number. Scanners used at markets, abattoirs, and by inspectors read the chip to identify the animal and trace it back to your flock.

Goat identification and tagging

Goat tagging requirements are similar to sheep, with one key difference: electronic identification (EID) is voluntary for goats unless you're exporting them. This gives you more flexibility in how you identify goats.

When to tag goats

EID voluntary but recommended: While EID tags are not mandatory for goats (unlike sheep), using them provides better traceability and makes record-keeping easier, especially if you have a large herd. EID is mandatory if you export goats to the EU or other countries.

Pig identification

Pigs have simpler identification requirements than cattle, sheep, or goats. Identification must be applied before the pig leaves your holding but not before (unlike other species where you tag within a specific number of days from birth regardless of movement).

Choosing identification method

Ear tags: Most common for breeding pigs and those going to shows. Tags must be tamper-resistant and heat-resistant (won't fade or become illegible). Metal, plastic, or combined materials are all acceptable.

Tattoos: Permanent but require skill to apply clearly. Must be large enough to remain legible throughout the pig's life. Commonly used in combination with other methods.

Slapmarks: Most common for slaughter pigs. Applied to both shoulders using ink or paint. Must be clearly legible on each shoulder. Quick to apply but can fade, so check before movement.

Temporary marks for young pigs

Pigs under 12 months moving from their birth holding to another farm (not to slaughter, market, or show) can use temporary paint marks instead of permanent identification. The paint mark must be clearly visible. Once at the destination holding, permanent identification must be applied before the next movement.

Deer identification

Farmed deer (not wild deer) must be identified before arrival at your holding, when leaving your holding, and during TB testing if your herd is subject to tuberculosis testing requirements.

No requirement to re-tag: Unlike other species, if you buy deer that already have identification tags from their previous holding, you don't need to replace those tags with your own herd mark. The existing tags remain valid. You only need to apply tags to deer born on your holding or deer arriving without identification.

Replacing lost or damaged tags

Tags can fall out, become illegible, or be damaged. All species have the same replacement deadline:

How to replace tags

Cattle: Order replacement tags from your tag supplier using the same identification number. Both tags must be replaced if one is lost. Cattle must not move until both replacement tags are fitted. Like-for-like replacements (same number) do not need to be reported to BCMS; if you replace a tag with a new number, notify BCMS within 14 days.

Sheep and goats: If replacing tags on the animal's birth holding, use the original identification number with new tags in the same colours as the originals. If replacing on a different holding (where the animal was bought), you must use red replacement tags marked with your flock/herd mark plus the animal's original individual number. This allows inspectors to see at a glance that the animal was re-tagged away from its birth holding.

Pigs: Apply new identification using the same herd mark and individual number if the pig had a unique ID. If it only had herd mark identification, apply your current herd mark.

Deer: Replace with tags showing the same identification number as the original tag.

Ordering tags

Tags must be ordered from suppliers approved by the relevant authority:

  • Cattle tags: Order from suppliers approved by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). You need your CPH (County Parish Holding) number to order cattle tags.
  • Sheep and goat tags: Order from suppliers approved by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA). You need your flock mark to order tags.
  • Pig tags: Order from any supplier, but tags must meet specifications (tamper-resistant, heat-resistant, displaying your herd mark correctly).
  • Deer tags: You can use sheep or goat tag suppliers approved by RPA.

Keep records of all tag orders including supplier, tag numbers supplied, and order dates. You may need to prove you've ordered tags if inspected.

Record keeping

In addition to tagging, you must keep written records of:

  • All animals born on your holding (tag numbers, birth dates, dam details)
  • All animals arriving (tag numbers, movement dates, where from)
  • All animals leaving (tag numbers, movement dates, where to)
  • Any deaths (tag numbers, date, cause if known, disposal method)
  • Tags replaced (date, reason, new and old tag numbers)

Cattle movements must be reported online to BCMS within 3 days. In England, sheep, goat, and deer movements must be reported within 3 days using the Livestock Information Service (LIS); pig movements are reported through eAML2. In Wales, sheep, goat, and deer movements are reported through EIDCymru; in Scotland, use ScotEID.

Hold on-farm records for at least 3 years (10 years for cattle). Inspectors can request to see these records at any time.

Agriculture & Farming Requirement

Agriculture & Farming businesses only

Livestock keepers with rare breeds or pedigree animals should check with their breed society for any additional identification requirements beyond legal minimums. Many breed societies require specific tag colours, tattoos, or DNA sampling for registration purposes. These breed society requirements are in addition to (not instead of) legal identification rules.
Rare Breeds Survival Trust (opens in a new tab)
Agriculture & Farming Advantage

Agriculture & Farming businesses

Organic certification requires full traceability and identification. Livestock in organic systems must meet all legal identification requirements and often need additional organic certification tags or documentation. Check with your organic certification body (e.g., Soil Association, Organic Farmers & Growers) for their specific identification and record-keeping requirements.
Soil Association technical information (opens in a new tab)