P3385

Animal Identification Process for Mississippi Junior Livestock Shows

For over a decade, Mississippi Junior Livestock Shows used retinal imaging to document animal identification (ID). In recent years, an alternative animal ID process was requested to save on time and travel necessitated by the retinal image process. In April 2019, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a new process of requiring RFID tags for animals in shows and exhibitions. To be proactive, the Mississippi Livestock Show directors approved the use of an 840 USDA Official (All-in-One) EID ear tag matched set for all market or commercial animals that must be purchased through the State 4-H Livestock Office as our animal ID process. For commercial dairy goats, an 840 microchip can be inserted into the webbing of the tail in place of the 840 All-in-One EID ear tag. This publication describes the ear-tagging process and how the tags will be used in our livestock nomination process.

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Publication 3385 (POD-09-25)

By Dean Jousan, PhD, Extension Professor and 4-H Livestock Specialist, Animal and Dairy Sciences.