Section 345IAC5-4-2. Official identification of animals required

   (a) The owner of sheep or goats shall identify the sheep and goats to the animal's flock of birth using official identification. If the flock of birth cannot be determined, animals shall be identified to their flock of origin. However, animals that meet one (1) of the following criteria need not be identified under this rule:

(1) Sheep in slaughter channels if they are under eighteen (18) months of age.

(2) Goats in slaughter channels if they are under eighteen (18) months of age.

(3) Wethers for exhibition that are being moved within the state under the requirements in subsection (c).

(4) Wethers under eighteen (18) months of age that are being moved within the state.

(5) Animals shipped directly to an approved slaughter establishment or approved market when:

(A) all of the animals transported in a section of the truck originate from the same premises; and

(B) the animals are accompanied by an owner's statement containing information sufficient for the establishment or market to identify the animals.

(6) Animals moved by an owner for management reasons from one (1) premises owned or leased by the owner of the animals to another premises owned or leased by the owner of the animals.

  (b) The owner of sheep or goats that are required to be identified under subsection (a) must identify the animals at the earliest of the following events:

(1) Upon change of ownership.

(2) Before being commingled with sheep or goats from any other flock of origin.

(3) Before arriving at an exhibition.

(4) When moved to a market, one (1) of the following apply:

(A) Upon unloading the animals at the market.

(B) If the market agrees to act as an agent for the owner to apply official identification to animals, the animals may enter the market without official identification but must be identified before leaving the market. However, animals must be kept separate from all other animals from different flocks of origin or flocks of birth until such time as they are identified. The owner shall provide to the market agent an owner's statement providing information needed to identify the animals to their flock of birth as required under this article.

(5) When moved directly to a slaughter plant that has agreed to act as an agent for the owner to apply official identification to animals, upon arrival at the slaughter plant. However, animals must be kept separate from all other animals from different flocks of origin or flocks of birth until such time as they are identified. The owner shall provide to the slaughter plant an owner's statement providing information needed to identify the animals to their flock of birth as required under this article.

  (c) The owner of a wether under eighteen (18) months of age moving to an exhibition shall identify the animal using a unique form of identification. The method of identification is not required to be an official form of identification under 345 IAC 1-2.6-5.

  (d) No person may:

(1) sell;

(2) transport;

(3) receive for transportation or sale; or

(4) offer for sale or transportation;

any sheep or goats that have not been identified as required under this section.

  (e) Animals that have been identified under this section shall remain so identified. The owner or custodian of an animal that loses its official identification shall reidentify the animal according to the requirements of this section prior to commingling the animal with any other animals.

  (f) A person may not apply official identification containing a premises identification number to an animal that did not originate from the premises corresponding to that premises identification number. However, an owner may apply a premises identification number to the owner's animal that resides in the flock but came from outside the flock as long as the records required under this article are kept.

  (g) No person may remove or tamper with any official identification required to be on a sheep or a goat. (Indiana State Board of Animal Health; 345 IAC 5-4-2; filed Jan 5, 2006, 8:00 a.m.: 29 IR 1547; readopted filed Aug 16, 2012, 8:27 a.m.: 20120912-IR-345120197RFA; filed Aug 22, 2014, 4:04 p.m.: 20140917-IR-345140057FRA)