Cattle Tagging Requirements

Information related to a herdowner's obligation in relation to the identification of animals, specifically tagging requirements.

Authorisation for allocation of ear tag numbers can be obtained from:

Ensure all calves born into your herd are double tagged (one in each ear) with approved Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) tags within 20 days or before the animal leaves the holding on which it was born, whichever is earlier.

Animals should retain their identification throughout their lifetime. If one tag is lost or becomes illegible, it must be replaced with an approved tag of the same type and same number within 28 days, or before the animal leaves the holding, whichever is sooner. This is a replacement tag and the date of replacement should be entered in your herd register.

Authorisation for allocation of a replacement tag can be obtained from:

Please note that if both tags become illegible or are lost, the animal effectively loses its identification and this will affect its eligibility for slaughter and may affect subsidy. In such circumstances the animal should be tagged with a new number and a notice of retagging form (MC1A) should be completed by the keeper and returned to your Divisional Veterinary Office (DVO). In these cases correlation between the old number and the new number can only be established by either a freeze brand, a pedigree drawing, a tattoo or DNA sampling. This correlation can be verified by a Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (DARD) official or a Private Veterinary Practitioner by completion of a VC1A form.

If this correlation cannot be established a status is added to the animal on the APHIS (Animal and Public Health Information System) database which restricts its movement and may affect its eligibility for slaughter and subsidy payments.