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When taking head shot / ear tag photos for registrations/transfers think of it as a forward facing mugshot of your sheep:
  • We need to see the COMPLETE ID number (the flock ID & the sheep ID, ex. KS1234-0001). ALL of the letters/numbers on the tag need to be visible AND readable.
  • The photos need to be looking directly at the sheep's face, not over the sheep, not looking at the side of the face. We want to see the mouth and nose leather, both eyes, both ears, and the piece/side of the scrapie tag with the COMPLETE ID number. Like these examples.
  • The wool needs to be moved away from the tag so it is not covering the tag information.
  • The tag needs to be clean. If necessary, use a baby wipe, Isopropyl alcohol, or similar to clean.
  • If necessary, take a photo of the sheep's face with a minimum of the animal ID number visible. Then, in additiona, take a zoomed in photo of the tag with enough of the sheep's face still in it so we know it is the same sheep.
  • If necessary, move/twist the ear so the tag is facing forward.
  • It may help to focus the camera more on the tag rather than the sheep.
  • Take the photos in natural light if possible.
Below are some examples of acceptable and not acceptable head shot/ear tag photos. Your photos should be looking directly at the sheep's face, from the same height as the sheep, not from above, below, or from the side of the sheep and showing the complete head/face of the sheep as well as the complete ear tag number. Usually each piece of the scrapie tag is different. Make sure the photo is of the side with the COMPLETE ID number on it (starts with the two letter state abbreviation) and the sheep ID number (unique to the sheep) in most cases.

You'll also have better luck having the ear tag be readable if:
  • you don't use a flash. The light may make the tags difficult to read.

Below are examples of acceptable head shot / ear tag photos.



Notice the photo of the off-white sheep with the ear tag KY6184-1780. It was necessary for the person holding the lamb to also hold the lamb's ear in a position to have the tag facing forward.


These two photos are a very good example of how to take a photo of two tags, both sides (the sheep's head needed to be held up rather than the photo being over the top of the sheep though). Notice the photo on the left, the ear with the green tag is being held so we see the back of the ear and the ear with the white tag is being held so we see the front of the ear. In the photo on the right, the ears are being held opposite, the ear with the green tag is being held so we see the front of the ear and the ear with the white tag is being held so we see the back of the ear. This presents both sides of the tags to us. However, the photos need to be looking directly at the sheep's face, not over the sheep. We want to see the mouth and nose leather, both eyes, both ears, and the scrapie tag ID numbers.

Example of a Canadian ear tagExample of a Canadian ear tag
The two photos above are examples of the Canadian ear tags. The Canadian breeders do not have an assigned flock number, their tags are just issued in numerical order as the producer orders them. All Canadian "scrapie" tags will start with 124 (the country code) 000 (range that may designate animal breed, not currently used; and the rest of the number, for sheep, will fall into 124,000,310,000,000 - 124,000,319,999,999 or 124,000,500,000,000 - 124,000,549,999,999.


Sometimes, it will be necessary to take two photos to submit for one sheep. If the owner uses smaller tags or if they use the small metal tags it may not be possible to have the sheep's face in the photo and also have the tag be readable. In this case, take the best photo you can showing the face and the tag, then take a close up of the tag with enough of the sheep's face in the photo so the registrar would know it was the same sheep.


The tags in the photos above are the tags currently (since 2021) being issued by the The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), National Scrapie Eradication Program. Are you new to sheep and the MANDATORY National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP)? Click here to get started and request a premises ID # for your farm & flock ID # for your sheep. These are needed to order Scrapie ear tags for your BABYDOLLS.
1-866-USDA-Tag (866-873-2824)




Below are examples of photos that are not acceptable head shot / ear tag photos.


In the first photo, part of the sheep's head is missing. The shot was not a straight on head shot in the second photo but rather from above the sheep.


The shot was not a straight on head shot in the first photo. In the second photo, half of the sheep's head is missing.


In this photo, none of the sheep's face is showing, only the tag. If it was a case of only the sheep ID number (0003) was on the inside of the ear, the sheep's ear needed to be held with this piece (the female piece) of the ear tag facing forward as mentioned in one of the sets of photos above.

The photo on the left is not showing the COMPLETE ID number. The member had to retake and resubmit a photo and it was necessary to turn the ear so the the complete ID number was showing. On the two piece-tags, the complete number is printed on the female piece of the tag (the button). Insert the tag so the button is inside the ear which also aids in retainabilty of the tag because it isn't as likely to get caught on fencing. Also, take your photos looking directly at the sheep's face, not over the sheep.



Height photo requirement goes into effect on January 1, 2026.
Any sheep being initially registered, or transferred, that was born in 2025, or later, will require a height photo if it is between the ages of 1 and 4 years old. This is in addition to the ear tag photo. Both can be combined in a single photo if you can meet the requirements for the height photos and the head shot / ear tag photo.  
We must be able to clearly see the entire sheep and your measuring setup. In the photo we need to see the sheep standing on level ground with the horizontal and vertical yardsticks or your measuring tools in place. If necessary, more than one photo can be submitted but it must be clear it is the same sheep in all the photos.
The sheep's official height measurement is taken at the withers with the horizontal measuring tool at skin level. Push it down if the sheep is not sheared. (Withers is the highest ridge of the spine between the shoulder blades.)
We need to be able to see the sheep is over 18" and under 24" on your actual measuring tool.


For those purchasing their own ear tags from a tag company, here is a handy chart showing the tags in the order of readability. Choosing colors on the left end will make it easier to take a photo of the writing on the tag.




The USDA mandatory National Scrapie Eradication Program, at shearers' request, ask tags be placed in the sheep's left ear (although not mandatory). Above is an illustration of where to place the tags. Two-piece tags should be placed so the complete scrapie tag ID number is on the inside of the ear. This is usually the tag piece with the button on it. Having the button on the inside of the ear also helps with retainability.


Updated as of 12/2025