The Florida Cattle Identification Rule is intended to improve the state’s ability to trace diseased animals, prevent disease spread in an animal disease emergency, and protect the marketability of Florida cattle.
The rule requires cattle 18 months of age or older moving within the state to be tagged with official individual identification.
Cattle exhibiting in public annual fairs permitted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) (as defined by Florida Statute 616) are required to have official individual identification and to be accompanied by an official certificate of veterinary inspection (OCVI).
Cattle moving to approved tagging sites for tagging, directly to slaughter, and between pastures under normal ranching operations, without changing ownership, are exempted under the rule.
Cattle owners can apply official identification tags themselves or have their cattle tagged at an approved tagging site. A variety of official identification tags can be purchased through an animal health product supplier. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides low-frequency (LF) radio-frequency identification devices (RFID) to producers for use in breeding cattle and cattle moving interstate or participating in program disease activities, such as tuberculosis testing and brucellosis testing or vaccination.
Obtaining Official Identification Tags
Official tags are available from private manufacturers as well as from the USDA. Private manufacturers offer several different types of official tags, including RFID tags in multiple configurations. FDACS distributes a limited supply of LF RFID button tags provided at no cost by the USDA. Producers may contact their local FDACS Division of Animal Industry District Office to request no-cost RFID tags. The tags must be picked up at the district office or another location within the district. District staff will provide a tag request form for the producer to fill out and sign indicating they agree to use the tags on their cattle only. Tag applicator pliers may be loaned from these offices, pending availability. Pliers can be purchased from animal health supply companies. Most tags are compatible with commonly available application pliers.
Producers who are interested in purchasing tags should contact their animal health product supplier. A listing of manufacturers of official identification devices can be viewed on the USDA website.
For specific information on the approved official identification tags, see:
Producers interested in receiving official RFID tags must provide a Premises Identification Number (PIN). The tags will be assigned to specific premises for use on animals originating on that premises. Apply for a PIN by filling out an Application for Premises Registration [ Adobe PDF Document ], or contact our office at (850) 410-0900. Producers who do not know their PIN can contact our office and we will look up the number. For questions about premises registration, see our Frequently Asked Questions.
Approved Cattle Tagging Sites and Division of Animal Industry District Offices
Use the map to find approved cattle tagging sites and Division of Animal Industry District Offices in Florida, or see a list of
Division of Animal Industry District Offices
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