Cattle Identification and Movement: guidance for keepers in Wales

When a calf is born, you must comply with the cattle identification regulations. These include:

• ensuring the calf is fitted with an approved ear tag in each ear
• applying for a cattle passport
• entering the calf’s details in the herd register

Identification

Keepers must:

• order a stock of official ear tags to use for births from registered suppliers
• provide your herd mark and CPH when ordering tags
• not apply for more ear tags than you will use in one year
• ensure unused ear tags are kept securely

Each animal needs one primary and one secondary ear tag, both showing the same unique identification number. The primary tag must be a yellow plastic distance-readable flag tag. It can go in either ear.

The primary tag shall only contain the information detailed below:

• the Crown logo
• the country code (‘UK’)
• the herd mark
• a check digit
• a five-digit individual animal number

The secondary tag must be in the other ear to the primary tag. It must have the same information as the primary tag, but may also contain management information and an EID chip.

Bovine Electronic Identification (Bovine EID)

The implementation of Bovine Electronic Identification (BEID) in Wales is getting closer. This follows publication of the summary of responses to the public consultation on the Implementation of Bovine Electronic Identification (Bovine EID) in Wales.  

After thoroughly reviewing all the feedback from the public consultation, we have decided to move forward with the introduction of BEID for newborn calves in Wales, using Low Frequency (LF) technology.  

Bovine EID for newborn calves in Wales is expected to be implemented in 2028. Further guidance on Bovine EID tag requirements will be issued in due course. We recommend you only order enough conventional tags to cover calves expected in 2026/27. 

For more information, please see Cattle tags: when will Bovine Electronic Identification be introduced