Extension is expanding its online education and resources while in-person events and classes are canceled.
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 4HOnline, our membership database.
Animal ID deadline for 2020 - CHANGED
June 1, 2020 for beef, dairy, dairy goat, dog, horse, lama, meat goat, poultry, rabbit, sheep and swine. 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 4HOnline. 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 20, 2019. 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 4HOnline. 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.)
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Dairy information sheet
Posted Dec 20, 2019. Important details about ownership, critical dates, ID requirements, state fair showing information and more.
Animal science projects lease information
Beginning in 2019, 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 4HOnline. ID worksheets are REQUIRED if you submit your animal ID by paper copy to your local Extension office.
Video
Dog information sheet
Posted Dec 20, 2019. 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 4HOnline
- Print it out and take it to your local Extension office on or before June 1.
Leased dogs
Dogs can be leased or owned. Either way, they must be properly ID'd. See the animal science projects lease information.
Video
Dairy goat information sheet
Posted Dec 20, 2019. 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 4HOnline. ID worksheets are REQUIRED if you submit your animal ID by paper copy to your local Extension office.
Video
Meat goat information sheet
Posted Dec 20, 2019. 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 4HOnline. 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 your local Extension office.
Video
Lama information sheet
Posted Dec 20, 2019. Important details about ownership, critical dates, ID requirements, state fair showing information and more.
Lama 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 your local Extension office.
Video
Poultry information sheet
Posted Dec 20, 2019. 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 4HOnline. ID worksheets are REQUIRED if you submit your animal ID by paper copy to your local Extension office.
Important dates
Lease information is due June 1 (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 20, 2019. 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 4HOnline. ID worksheets are REQUIRED if you submit your animal ID by paper copy to your local Extension office.
Video
Sheep information sheet
Posted Dec 20, 2019. 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 4HOnline. ID worksheets are REQUIRED if you submit your animal ID by paper copy to your local Extension office.
Video
Swine information sheet
Posted Dec 20, 2019. 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)
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 4HOnline. ID worksheets are REQUIRED if you submit your animal ID by paper copy to your local Extension office.
Video
If you are only doing the 4-H Pets Project, you don't need to do animal ID.
Reviewed in 2019