Mandatory labeling of small ruminants in Russia: What you need to know

Tagging small ruminants will help ensure individual animal tracking, which is essential for monitoring their health, origin, and location, especially in the face of modern threats such as epidemics and diseases. Furthermore, such tagging will improve herd management efficiency and product quality.

Each animal will have a unique identification number (UNSM), consisting of 11 characters and beginning with the prefix "RU1." The first digit, "1," indicates the individual number, and the remaining characters may include numbers and Latin letters. To obtain a UNSM, you must submit an application to Rosselkhoznadzor , indicating the number of animals to be marked. The marking procedure must be completed no later than 30 days after the animal's birth or its entry into the country.

Marking is done using ear tags with UNSM printed on them, which are attached to the animals' ears. To install them, follow the manufacturer's instructions and use the appropriate tools. The characters on the tags must be at least 5 mm high to ensure legibility. It is recommended to use factory-printed tags to avoid errors.

Animal records will be maintained in the Horriot information system. Data will be entered by state veterinarians and other specialists. Starting September 1, 2025, livestock specialists will also be able to maintain records. As of early April, over 9 million small ruminants were registered in the system, confirming the importance of marking in the agricultural sector.

Mandatory marking of sheep and goats will thus be an important step toward improving small livestock management in Russia, helping to increase veterinary control and create safe conditions for animals and people.