Animal Identification

Animal identification

Each animal submitted to Sheep Genetics has its own 16-digit identification number. This number is unique to that animal. If you use animals from other flocks, it is important to keep the animal’s original 16-digit code. 

  Breed Code Flock ID Birth year Tag number
Example 16-digit ID 19 9999 2020 200001

 

  • We assign 2-digit breed codes according to the table below.
  • If you are a member of a breed society, we use your four digit society flock ID. If not a member of a breed society, Sheep Genetics will assign you a flock code. 
  • The last six digits are determined by the breeder and tend to reflect the animal’s tag number. The last 6 digits should aim to only include numbers (having no letters is preferred). 

Important note: If entering these 16-digit IDs into Excel, be aware that the default formatting of the program tends to convert these IDs into incorrect scientific notation.  You can overcome this by entering an ' at the beginning of the number i.e '1999992020200001 and excel will then treat it as text and not convert.

Breed code table

Breed code & name

Breed code & name

Breed code & name

Breed code & name
01 Standard 25 Australian White 48 Prime SAMM 89 NZ Suffolk
02 Border Leicester 26 Research 49 Damara 90 NZ Polwarth
03 Corriedale 27 Shropshire 50 Merino 91 NZ Hampshire
04 Dorset Horn 28 Cheviot 51 Dohne Merino 92 NZ Finnsheep
05 Coolalee 29 South Dorset Down 60 Poll Merino 93 NZ Dorset Down
06 Bond 30 Carpet Wool 71 NZ Merino Composite 94 NZ Ryeland
07 Gromark 31 English Leicester 72 South American Merino 95 NZ English Leicester
08 Hyfer 32 Perendale 73 South African Merino 96 NZ Halfbred
09 Wiltshire Horn 33 Dorset Down 74 NZ Merino 97 NZ Shropshire
10 Polwarth 34 Ryeland 75 NZ Coopworth 98 NZ Gotland Pelt
11 Hampshire Down 35 South Hampshire 76 NZ Lincoln 99 NZ Southdown
12 Wiltipoll 36 Goats 77 NZ Borderdale AF Afrino
14 Southdown 37 Texel Downs 78 NZ Oxford Down AG Angora Goat
15 Coopworth 38 East Friesian 79 NZ White Head Marsh CF Clun Forest
16 Poll Dorset 39 Booroola 80 NZ Drysdale CH Charolais
17 Texel 40 Dorper 81 NZ Lincworth CM Composite Maternal
18 Romney 41 NZ Romney 82 NZ Border Leicester CS Composite Shedder
19 Suffolk 42 Suffolk Canada 83 NZ Corriedale CT Composite Terminal
20 Tukidale 43 Finn Leicester 84 NZ Dorset Horn IN Information Nucleus
21 South Suffolk 44 Elliotdales 85 NZ Poll Merino SI Sheep Improvement Limited
22 Finnsheep 45 Red Deer 86 NZ Poll Dorset SX St Croix
23 White Suffolk 46 Elk Deer 87 NZ Texel VR Van Rooy
24 Ultra White 47 White Dorper 88 NZ South Suffolk XB Crossbred

 

See also What about cull and commercial animals?