Registry Tattoos Approved for Use as Official ID for the Scrapie Program

Last Modified: April 19, 2024
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The Code of Federal Regulations part 79.2 and the National Scrapie Eradication Program Standards allow sheep and goats to be officially identified with registry tattoos for movement in interstate commerce with some exceptions.

This page describes the criteria for approving a breed registry’s tattoos for this purpose and provides a list of breed registries that are approved. Renewals are required every 5 years. The date when future renewals are due is listed by each registry in the list below.
Code of Federal Regulations part 79.2 
National Scrapie Eradication Program Standards 

Criteria for Approval of Registry Tattoos

  1. Each registry tattoo contains a unique premises or flock identification number assigned by the registry and a unique individual animal identification number;
  2. The unique tattoo is linked to records that will allow any association-registered sheep or goat to be traced to its flock of origin and birth; and
  3. The registry will, upon request, provide APHIS with information that will allow any association-registered sheep or goat to be traced to its flock of birth and any subsequent registered owners.

Registries seeking approval should send a letter on registry letterhead indicating how the registry meets the requirements in A and B and agreeing to item C and including a list of breeds registered and documentation that the registry is a legal entity and has registered sheep or goats. If the registry has changed names the previous name(s) and whether the registry maintains the records from before the name change(s). The letter must be signed by an authorized officer of the registry and e-mailed to:

USDA Sheep and Goat Team
Ruminant Health Center
scrapie@usda.gov

Approved Registries

The registry tattoos of the following organizations are currently approved by APHIS to be used as official identification:

  • American Boer Goat Association (until 4/1/2026)
  • American Colored Angora Goat Registry (until 1/9/2025)
  • American Dairy Goat Association (until 4/1/2026)
  • American Goat Society (until 4/1/2026)
  • American Kiko Goat Association (until 4/1/2026)
  • Cashmere Goat Association’s North American Cashmere Goat Registry (until 10/22/2024)
  • iGoats Small Breed Goat Association doing business as American Pygmy Goat International (until 5/25/2027)
  • International Dairy Goat Breeders’ and Enthusiasts’ Guild (until 10/29/2025)
  • International Goat, Sheep, Camelid Registry (formerly doing business as the International Dairy Goat Registry, IDGR and IDGR-IFBR) (until 4/22/2024)
  • Kinder Goat Breeders Association (until 4/1/2026)
  • Miniature Dairy Goat Association (until 4/1/2026)
  • Miniature Silky Fainting Goat Association and Registry (until 4/1/2026)
  • The Miniature Goat Registry (until 4/1/2026)
  • Myotonic Goat Registry (until 4/1/2026)
  • National Miniature Goat Association (until 4/1/2026)
  • National Pygmy Goat Association (until 4/1/2026)
  • Nigerian Dairy Goat Association (formerly doing business as the Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association) (until 4/1/2026)
  • Pedigree International (until 4/10/2028)
  • Pygora Breeders Association (until 4/1/2026)
  • San Clemente Island Goat Breeders Association (until 4/30/2028)
  • St. Croix Hair Sheep Breeders, Inc. (until 9/20/27)

As of April 1, 2021, the registry tattoos of International Kiko Goat Association are no longer approved for use as official APHIS identification since this association did not elect to submit a request for continued approval.

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