Ear Marking
REGULATIONS
Each lamb born in a registered Oxford Down flock must be identified as soon as practicable after birth with two official ID ear tags, one of which must be electronic and the other non-electronic. The electronic tag must be coloured yellow and is applied to the left ear. The non-electronic tag can be any colour other than yellow, black, or red. The official ID that appears on the two tags must be identical and unique to the lamb.
In addition, the Association requires that all lambs retained or sold for breeding must carry the Oxford Down ear mark, applied either as management information on at least one official ID tag, or as a third tag or as a tattoo. If a third tag os used it must be must be pre-printed or stamped, not hand-written. Ear tags stated on registration forms must match those physically in the sheep's ears.
OXFORD DOWN EAR MARK
The format for the Oxford Down ear mark is:
ODSBA Flock No. / Year Code / 5-digit Individual Lamb no.
The lamb's individual number is the 5-digit number from the official ID.
The Year Code is the last two digits of the year of birth (optional but recommended).
EXAMPLE
For lamb number 00789 born in 2024 in Oxford Down Flock No 1234 UK Flock Mark UK0654321):
Official ID = UK0654321 00789
Oxford Down ear mark = 1234 / 24 / 00789
If the Oxford Down ear mark is not included on the official ID tags as management information, breeders may use standard official ID tags but must apply the Oxford Down ear mark either as a third tag or a tattoo. Where tattoos are used, the ODSBA Flock No is tattooed in the left ear and the Year Code is tattooed in the right ear.
YEAR CODE
Where breeders choose to include the Year Code denoting the year of birth in the Oxford Down ear mark, the Year Code to be used shall be the last two digits of the year of birth e.g. for lambs born in 2024 the Year Code = 24. December-born lambs are part of the next year's lamb crop and must be given the next year's Year Code e.g. for lambs born in December 2023 the Year Code is 24.
RE-TAGS
Lost tags must be replaced no later than 28 days after being discovered to be missing. If a registered sheep is re-tagged with a new individual number, the owner must notify the Association. If an identical replacement tag is used or the sheep is not registered, notification is not required.
RECORD KEEPING
The official ID and Oxford Down ear mark must be recorded for each lamb alongside its sire and dam information in the breeder's lambing book.
A contact list for ear tag suppliers in the UK with suggested tags is given here: List of Ear Tag suppliers