(a) The following classes of sheep and goats shall be identified using official identification eartags and applied before they are moved from the farm for intrastate or interstate commerce, exhibition, or to be commingled with animals from other farms.
  (1) Animals to be identified:
    (A) All sheep 18 months of age and older
    (B) All breeding sheep regardless of age
    (C) Sexually intact show or exhibition animals
    (D) All breeding goats, except low risk goats
    (E) If the animals are registered, an acceptable alternative to premise identification eartag is the registration tattoo when the animal(s) are accompanied by the registration papers.
    (F) All exposed, Scrapie-positive, suspect, test-positive, and high-risk animals
  (2) Wethers or commercial goats that haven't had contact with sheep, are exempt from identification requirements.
(b) Animals shall be identified with premises identification prior to commingling with animals from other farms.
(c) Issuance of premises identification numbers:
  (1) The TAHC will issue a premises identification number to each sheep and goat owner upon request. The premises identification will consist of the State Postal abbreviation (TX) followed by up to five alphanumeric digits.
  (2) Livestock auction markets, slaughter establishments, and owner agents (such as agriculture science instructors, veterinarians, and Texas Cooperative Extension Agents representing 4 H clubs) may also request and receive premises identification.
(d) Official identification:
  (1) Only USDA provided or approved tags shall be used.
  (2) Premises eartags shall not be removed, and required records must be maintained (see 60.2 (e)).
  (3) If the animals are registered, an acceptable alternative to an official eartag is the registration tattoo when the animal(s) are accompanied by the registration papers.
(e) Eartag application and associated record keeping is the responsibility of any person handling animals under this regulation. Animals do not need to be retagged unless previous tag is lost. Records shall be maintained on all retagged animals.
(f) Record Keeping:
  (1) General Requirements:
    (A) For the purpose of officially identifying animals that are changing ownership, the person acquiring the animals may act as an agent for the person disposing of or selling these animals. Each person who buys or sells sheep or goats covered under this regulation for his or her own account, or as the agent of the buyer or seller, transports, receives for transportation, offers for sale or transportation, or otherwise handles sheep or goats must insure that the animals are identified as required and must maintain records relating to the transfer of ownership, shipment, or handling of said animals such as auction market drive-in documents, yarding receipts, sale tickets, invoices and waybills.
    (B) Animals that lose their official identification may be retagged, provided that all possible flocks of origin are listed in the record describing the new identification that is applied. Persons who buy or sell animals that are required to be officially identified must identify the animals if not already officially identified and must maintain records as described in paragraph (3) of this subsection.
    (C) Said records shall be maintained for a minimum of five years after transaction or transport takes place by the person(s) stipulated in (A).
    (D) Said records shall be made available to State or APHIS representatives, or an authorized accredited veterinarian, upon request.
    (E) Premises identification numbers on scrapie suspect, positive, exposed, and high risk animals shall be recorded on VS form 5-20, or other acceptable documents, and forwarded to the Designated Scrapie Epidemiologist.
  (2) Information required of persons applying, or recording, premises identification numbers prior to movement, or sale, of animals from the premises.
    (A) Date officially identified
    (B) Date of movement
    (C) Number of animals identified
    (D) Premises number applied
    (E) If born after January 1, 2002:
      (i) If not already identified to the flock of birth, insert premises eartag of current owner and record the name and address of the owner of the flock of birth with the individual animal identification number on the premises identification number.
      (ii) If bearing that premises identification number was applied at the flock of birth, that premises identification number, and (if known) the name and address of the flock of birth shall be recorded.
  (3) Records required of persons who acquire or who sell or dispose of animals.
    (A) following records:
      (i) The number of animals acquired.
      (ii) The date of purchase or acquisition.
      (iii) The name and address of the person, or market, from whom the animals were purchased or otherwise acquired.
      (iv) The species and breed or class of animal.
    (B) Persons who sell or dispose of sheep or goats must maintain the following records:
      (i) The number of animals sold or disposed of.
      (ii) The date of sale.
      (iii) The name and address of the buyer or person who acquired the animals.
      (iv) The species and breed or class of animal.
  (4) Records required of persons (such as accredited veterinarians, markets, dealers, or agents) who apply premises identification that is not assigned to the owner of the premises of origin must record the following information (eartags do not have to be applied in animals already bearing premises identification) and maintained for a minimum of 5 years: For animals without official identification.
    (A) The date tagged.
    (B) The number of sheep and the number of goats identified.
    (C) The serial numbers applied.
    (D) The name and address of the owner of the flock of origin.
    (E) If the person who currently owns the animals is different from the owner of the flock of origin or birth, the current owner's name and address.
    (F) If the owner of the flock of birth is different from the owner of the flock of origin, and if the animals were born after January 1, 2002, the name and address of the owner of the flock of birth if known.
  (5) Records required of persons overseeing terminal feedlots:
    (A) Must be maintained for a minimum of 5 years after the animal leaves the feedlot
    (B) Shall include the name and address of the person consigning the animal to the feedlot
    (C) Shall include the name and address of the slaughter establishment to which the animal is consigned
    (D) These records must be made available, upon request, to a TAHC or APHIS representative.

Source Note: The provisions of this §60.2 adopted to be effective September 1, 2002, 27 TexReg 8183