• Animal Health
 /  
• Veterinary Accreditation
 /  
• NVAP Reference Guide
 /  
• Animal Identification

Cattle Identification

Record all forms of identification if more than one form is present. (See figure 2 for an example of a calfhood vaccination identification, figure 3 for a depiction of cattle dentition to assess age, and table 3 for a list of bovine breeds and abbreviation codes.) In addition to listing the approximate age, gender, and breed of the animal, use one or more of the following identification methods:

• Official eartag.  See definition above.

• Individual animal’s registration tattoo accompanied by the official registration certificate issued by a recognized breed association.

• Official registration brand accompanied by official brand inspection certificates

  issued by a recognized brand inspection agency.

• Registration number of a breed association recognized by APHIS –VS in conjunction with an official eartag, tattoo, or brand.

• USDA-approved backtag. Backtags are used mostly in stockyards or slaughterhouses. These cannot be used as the only identification for onfarm testing.
  
  

Figure 2— Example of a Brucellosis calfhood vaccination identification.