Guide
Identify and tag sheep and goats
How to identify and tag sheep and goats correctly. Covers double EID tagging for breeding stock, batch tagging for animals going direct to slaughter under 12 months, tagging deadlines, and replacement rules for lost or damaged tags.
You must identify every sheep and goat you keep with approved ear tags before the animal reaches the tagging deadline or leaves your holding, whichever comes first. The rules vary depending on whether the animal is breeding stock (kept beyond 12 months) or going directly to slaughter as a lamb or kid.
This guide covers the tagging rules that apply to all sheep and goat keepers in England. Keepers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland follow similar rules but use different movement reporting systems (see the devolved variations at the end of this guide).
1. Register your flock or herd mark first
Before you can order tags, you need a flock mark (for sheep) or herd mark (for goats). This is a unique identifier allocated by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) that appears on every tag, linking the animal back to the holding where it was born or first tagged.
You must also have a County Parish Holding (CPH) number for the land. If you do not yet have one, see Register land to keep livestock: get a CPH number before continuing.
2. Tag breeding sheep with double EID
Sheep kept beyond 12 months—including all breeding ewes, rams and replacement stock—must carry two identifiers, one of which must be an electronic identifier (EID). Both tags must show the same individual number and your flock mark.
3. Tag goats with approved EID tags
Goats follow the same double-tagging principle as sheep, with one electronic and one conventional identifier. Rules for goat kids going to slaughter and breeding goats kept beyond 12 months differ slightly from sheep—check the deadlines carefully.
4. Use a single batch tag for slaughter lambs and kids
If you are sending lambs or kids directly to slaughter before they are 12 months old, you can use a single electronic batch tag (often called a "slaughter tag") rather than the full double EID. Batch tags show your flock or herd mark but do not carry an individual number.
Batch tagging is only allowed if the animal moves direct from its birth holding to an abattoir, or via an approved red-market collection centre that does not break the direct-to-slaughter chain.
5. Replace lost or damaged tags
If an animal loses a tag, or a tag becomes unreadable, you must replace it as soon as the loss is discovered and before the animal next moves off your holding. Replacement tags use a red colour coding so inspectors can see the tag is a replacement rather than the original birth tag.
Replacement rules differ depending on whether you bred the animal or bought it in—the snippet below sets out both cases.
6. Keep evidence of tagging
Record every tagging event in your holding register, including the date tagged, the tag number range used, and the tag supplier. Keep tag invoices and delivery notes for at least three years. APHA inspectors will cross-check your register against actual tags on animals during routine inspections.
For the full record-keeping rules, see Keep a livestock holding register.
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Register your flock or herd mark with APHA
Apply before ordering tags. Allow 5-10 working days for allocation.
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Order approved EID tags from a DEFRA-listed supplier
Tags must carry your flock/herd mark and meet UK technical standards.
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Tag breeding stock before the deadline or first movement
Double EID for any animal kept beyond 12 months.
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Use batch tags only for direct-to-slaughter animals under 12 months
Single electronic batch tag permitted if moving direct from birth holding to abattoir.
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Replace lost tags before the next movement
Use red replacement tags and record the replacement in your holding register.
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Record every tagging event in your holding register
Keep invoices and delivery notes for three years minimum.