1. Accurate flock records are a must for raising registered livestock. These records are needed to properly fill out registration applications. You must know the dam and sire of each lamb. This requires the use of only one ram at a time in a breeding pen or pasture. If two rams are to be used on the same group of ewes, their use must be separated by a time interval that will leave no doubt as to the sire of the lambs (suggested minimum of 17 days between rams). Ram marking harnesses can also be used to help identify ewes bred to different rams, though again running two rams at the same time is not permitted. Use of some positive means of identification such as lamb tags applied at birth, tattoos, ear notches or microchips is needed while the lamb’s dam is known. All Ram lambs must be removed from the ewes before they are old enough to serve the ewes. All lambs entering the purebred herd book must be out of previously registered stock.
2. Identification requirements: Sheep must be tagged with their breeders own unique tag. The tag will have a name – either the breeder’s name or herd (farm) name (You may fill out an application for a herdname if you do not already have one registered with IDGR) and an ID# number. For example the sheep on "Little Horn Farm" would be tagged "Little Horn Farm 105, Little Horn Farm 106"etc. No other given name will be used on sheep registration except by special order (see schedule of fees on other side of this page). You may use an ear tag marker to write the Herd or Farm name on the back side of the tags and have the number on the front or you may special order your tags with your name printed on them. Plastic or metal tags are acceptable. Also scrapie ID tags will be permitted for identification. Other types of ID may be used in addition to ear tags, such as tattoos, microchips, ear notches or horn notches in case the ear tag is lost. At this time one clear picture of each animal submitted for registration in the purebred herdbook is required.

Requirements for entering sheep in the American herdbook: All above requirements apply except one parent may be unknown or unregistered. Also two clear pictures, showing two different views of the animal must accompany the application for registration. Animals that do not conform to the breed will be registered as grade or experimental. American animals breed to purebred stock can eventually (at 98%) enter the purebred herdbook.

Requirements for entering sheep in the Grade herdbook: All above ID requirements must be met. These animals may be of unknown ancestry. They must conform to the breed standard and again 2 pictures will be required. Grade animals when bred with American or Purebred stock may enter the American herdbook at 87.5%

Requirements for entering sheep in the Experimental herdbook: Sheep submitted for registry in the Experimental herd book must have at lest one registered parent and may have parents of different breeds. Again the above ID rules apply to Experimentals as well and two pictures are required.

All above rules will be in effect starting January 1st 2003