New Cattle I.D. Requirements

Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources- Hopkins County

 

 

New cattle ID tags to be distributed thru participant veterinarians and Extension Offices.

 

 

            A new requirement from the Texas Animal Health Commission is cancelling the requirements of Brucellosis testing and changing them to a mandatory identification program at the time of change of ownership. According to the news release all adult sexually intact cattle (including bulls and packing cows) should be individually identified. Several methods of individual identifications are approved and producers can also use metal eartags provided by the Texas Animal Health Commission thru participant veterinarians and Extension offices.

 

 

 

 

 

The new tags will have paperwork to follow. The ear tags are metal and are free of charge.  Young stock less than 18 months of age are exempt unless calved. The rule will become effective January 1, 2013. A metal applicator can be loaned from the Hopkins County Extension Office to use during the metal eartag application, but it must be returned to the office as soon as the procedure is done. You will be requested to fill out a check out form for the applicator before loaning it. For more information on this or other agricultural topics please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office by calling 903-885-3443 or e-mail Mario at mavillarino@ag.tamu.edu

 

 

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