Extension is expanding its online education and resources to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions.
4-H animal ID
What is animal ID?
Animal ID is a system for identifying and tracking all animals in the 4-H animal science project areas. Make sure to complete both sets of requirements below to ensure health, safety and fairness. Start with entering your animal ID information into 4-H Online, our membership database.
Animal ID deadline for 2021 - Changed due to holiday and falling on a weekend.
May 17, 2021 for beef, dairy, dairy goat, dog, horse, llama - alpaca, meat goat, poultry, rabbit, sheep and swine.
Feb 16, 2021 for market beef (beef steers, market heifers and dairy steers).
Contact your local 4-H office for more information.
Requirements for all animals
See all requirement details by species and class. You must follow all of these requirements, whether you own or lease your animal.
How to use this year's ear tags for identification
Once enrolled in your project, you will receive a letter from your local Extension office. County ID letters contain critically important information specific to your county, such as deadlines and locations. You can also find this letter posted on your local 4-H website. If you don't receive a county ID letter for your species, contact your local Extension staff.
Breeding animals may be owned or leased. Market animals may not be leased. All owned and leased animals must be ID'd in 4-H Online. Read full details about animal ID and leasing.
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Cloverbuds may show their own animal or another 4-H’ers identified animal.
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The Minnesota Board of Animal Health requires all animals at exhibitions to have official ID (tag or tattoo) this includes Cloverbuds. Cloverbud ID information does not need to be included in 4HOnline.
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Cloverbud entries may be included in county fair pre-registration for stalling/penning purposes.
Requirements for species
Beef information sheet
Posted Dec 11, 2020. Important details about ownership, critical dates, ID requirements, state fair showing information and more.
Beef ID worksheets
Worksheets are a good way to collect data in the barn before you put it into 4-HOnline. ID worksheets are REQUIRED if you submit your animal ID by paper copy to your local Extension office. (Ignore Google suggestion to request access - just download and fill in.)
Dairy information sheet
Posted Dec 11, 2020. Important details about ownership, critical dates, ID requirements, state fair showing information and more.
Animal science projects lease information
All leased dairy animals must complete and use the NEW Minnesota 4-H animal science lease information form.
Dairy ID worksheet
Download and fill in (ignore Google's suggestion to request access).
Worksheets are a good way to collect data in the barn before you put it into 4-H Online. ID worksheets are REQUIRED if you submit your animal ID by paper copy to your local Extension office.
Dog information sheet
Posted Dec 21, 2020. Important details about ownership, critical dates, ID requirements, dog show information and more.
Dog ID form
- Download and fill in (ignore Google's suggestion to request access).
- Two ways to submit your filled-in form:
- Upload it to 4-H Online
- Print it out and take it to your local Extension office on or before ID deadline.
Leased dogs
Dogs can be leased or owned. Either way, they must be properly ID'd. See the animal science projects lease information.
Dairy goat information sheet
Posted Dec 11, 200. Important details about ownership, critical dates, ID requirements, state fair showing information and more
Dairy goat ID worksheet
Download and fill in (ignore Google's suggestion to request access).
Worksheets are a good way to collect data in the barn before you put it into 4-H Online. ID worksheets are REQUIRED if you submit your animal ID by paper copy to your local Extension office.
Meat goat information sheet
Posted Dec 11, 2020. Important details about ownership, critical dates, ID requirements, state fair showing information and more.
Meat goat ID worksheets
Download and fill in (ignore Google's suggestion to request access).
Worksheets are a good way to collect data in the barn before you put it into 4-H Online. ID worksheets are REQUIRED if you submit your animal ID by paper copy to your local Extension office.
Horse ID worksheet
Download and fill in (ignore Google's suggestion to request access).
Worksheets are a good way to collect data in the barn before you put it into 4HOnline. ID worksheets are REQUIRED if you submit your animal ID by paper copy to our local Extension office.
Llama - Alpaca information sheet
Posted Dec 11, 2020. Important details about ownership, critical dates, ID requirements, state fair showing information and more.
Llama - Alpaca ID worksheet
Download and fill in (ignore Google's suggestion to request access).
Worksheets are a good way to collect data in the barn before you put it into 4-H Online. ID worksheets are REQUIRED if you submit your animal ID by paper copy to your local Extension office.
Poultry information sheet
Posted Dec 11, 2020. Important details about ownership, critical dates, ID requirements, state fair showing information and more.
Pigeon/dove ID worksheet
Download and fill in (ignore Google's suggestion to request access).
Worksheets are a good way to collect data in the barn before you put it into 4-H Online. ID worksheets are REQUIRED if you submit your animal ID by paper copy to your local Extension office.
Important dates
Lease information is due May 17 (ID'ing process only for pigeons and doves is required for poultry owned by the 4-H member and/or their family).
Rabbit information sheet
Posted Dec 11, 2020. Important details about ownership, critical dates, ID requirements, state fair showing information and more.
Rabbit ID worksheet
Download and fill in (ignore Google's suggestion to request access).
Worksheets are a good way to collect data in the barn before you put it into 4-H Online. ID worksheets are REQUIRED if you submit your animal ID by paper copy to your local Extension office.
Sheep information sheet
Posted Dec 11, 2020. Important details about ownership, critical dates, ID requirements, state fair showing information and more.
Sheep ID worksheet (market lambs and breeding ewes)
Download and fill in (ignore Google's suggestion to request access).
Worksheets are a good way to collect data in the barn before you put it into 4-H Online. ID worksheets are REQUIRED if you submit your animal ID by paper copy to your local Extension office.
Swine information sheet
Posted Dec 11, 2020. Important details about ownership, critical dates, ID requirements, state fair showing information and more.
Swine premise ID information
You must identify the place where you keep your pig.
Basic biosecurity for tagging 4-H swine (PDF)
How to Read Ear Notches of Pigs
Swine ID worksheet for breeding gilts, market barrows and market gilts
Download and fill in (ignore Google's suggestion to request access).
Worksheets are a good way to collect data in the barn before you put it into 4-H Online. ID worksheets are REQUIRED if you submit your animal ID by paper copy to your local Extension office.
If you are only doing the 4-H Pets Project, you don't need to do animal ID.
Reviewed in 2020