New initiative provides no cost eartags for sow and show pigs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced a new program to provide no-cost radio frequency identification (RFID) eartags for swine starting in fall 2025. These tags will be available to both sow producers and exhibition swine owners.
Through this initiative, APHIS awarded a contract to Merck Animal Health to supply up to $20 million worth of RFID tags over the next five years. The effort follows the model of the existing cattle tag program and is designed to improve swine disease traceability nationwide.
Although RFID tags do not prevent disease outbreaks, they play a vital role in improving how quickly and accurately disease investigations can be conducted. Faster tracing limits the number of farms and animals impacted, reducing economic losses and safeguarding U.S. livestock markets.
Producers and state animal health officials will be able to order tags directly from Merck Animal Health through the website www.840swinetags.com. Unlike past programs, APHIS will not serve as an intermediary. Merck will process and ship orders directly to premises, ensuring a quicker distribution process.
To request tags, producers must provide a valid premises identification number, shipping and contact details, and the number of swine onsite—either sows for commercial farms or show pigs for exhibitions. State officials can also order tags based on the number of swine in their region.
The RFID tags must be applied with a compatible applicator, which is not included in the program. For further details on ordering and eligibility, producers can visit USDA’s swine identification webpage.
Photo Credit: usda