Official Identification for Cattle and Bison

For Exhibition and Movement within Minnesota

The following are current forms of acceptable official identification for cattle moving within Minnesota for any purpose:

USDA Metal Tag

Commonly referred to as a "Silver" or "Brite" tag. Begins with '41' (numeric code for Minnesota).

840 RFID and Non-RFID Tags

840-series tags are comprised of 15 digits; '840' are the first three digits (numeric code for USA). Both Radio Frequency ID (RFID) and non-RFID '840' tags are official.

982 and 985 Manufacturer RFID Tags

Manufacturer RFID tags with the first three digits of ‘982’ and ‘985’ are currently being accepted as official ID; however, these tags will not be accepted in the future.  Producers are asked to discontinue use of these tags as soon as possible.

Plastic '41' Tag

A new alternative to USDA metal tags, these easy-to-read tags use the same numbering system.

USDA Brucellosis "Bangs" Tag

Orange metal ear tags are placed in the ears of cattle after they have been vaccinated for brucellosis.

American ID Number Tags

Tamper-evident tags that begin with the prefix 'USA' and are followed by either 8 or 9 digits.