The Minnesota Board of Animal Health has depleted its supply of free USDA National Uniform Eartagging System (NUES) metal ear tags for cattle and other livestock. So, at its Dec. 11 quarterly meeting, the board decided for the MBAH office to discontinue further distribution of NUES tags.

A year ago, USDA announced it would stop providing the free tags in anticipation of implementing radio frequency identification nationwide as the official identification of cattle and bison.

Minnesota livestock producers, excluding sheep and goat producers, may be able to purchase metal NUES tags from their veterinarians (if they keep a supply). Otherwise, silver metal NUES tags may be purchased from Ketchum Manufacturing (minimum order 100 tags) by calling 800-222-0460 or National Band & Tag Company (minimum order 100 tags for producers; 1,000 tags for veterinarians) by calling 859-261-2035.

Orange brucellosis vaccination tags may only be ordered by accredited veterinarians and applied to cattle and bison. Orange metal NUES Brucellosis Vaccination tags can be ordered at no cost from MBAH while supplies last by calling 651-201-6836 or using the online tag order form.

To prepare for ordering official identification ear tags, producers should make sure they have a state or federal premises identification number. Either or both can be obtained by completing an online form request to register each premises where livestock are kept.

Producers should have their state or federal premises identification number available when ordering official ear tags. Veterinarians should have the premises number for their clinic available when placing an order for official ID.

None of the official ID requirements are changing.

According to a news release, MBAH is committed to developing resources to facilitate the transition to electronic official identification.

Source: Minnesota Board of Animal Health, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.