Heifer Validation

The Texas Major Livestock Shows are participating in a program supported by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas Education Agency, Department of Agricultural Education, whereby all 4-H and FFA heifers exhibited at their shows will be required to be validated through the Texas 4-H and FFA Breeding Heifer Validation Program. Heifer projects will be identified appropriately with an official Texas Heifer Validation Unique Identification Number (UIN) barcode. The validation program will utilize the website www.texaslivestockvalidation.com to house and process validation information. Every year there will be two validations for Major Livestock Shows. One will be held in the Spring for the Fall Major Livestock shows and another will be held in the Fall for Spring Major Livestock shows.

2025 - 2026 Forms

2025 Heifer Validation Guidelines

2025-2026 Ethics Policy

Translated Ethics Policy

2025 Parent Waiver

Parent Waiver Translated

Rule #3 Approval Submission Link

Rule #3 Approval Form

Online UIN Ordering Instruction

Heifer Dates of Eligibility

2025 Heifer Validation Form

New Ear Tag Replacement Form

How to upload registration papers to texasheifervalidation.com:

Important Dates

August 1 - August 31, 2025 -
www.texaslivestockvalidation.com is open for County Validation Chairman to submit tag orders. $25.00 validation fee. ONLY one order per county. Late tag orders can be made September 1- October 23, 2025 for $30.00. Please do not mail payment until you receive the invoice.
September 13, 2025

Invoice generated for all original tag orders and sent to Validation Chair. Late tag orders will be invoiced November 4, 2025
September 15, 2024 -. www.texaslivestockvalidation.com is open to ASTs/CEAs ONLY for registration paper upload. Instructional video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDb3h8MaDBM

October 1- October 31, 2025 -
Heifers to be eligible for the 2025 spring shows must be physically validated. Once validated, a heifer remains eligible unless breed or ownership is changed.
October 31, 2025 -
Deadline: original registration papers must be in the exhibitor’s name
November 8, 2025 -
Deadline to upload registration papers and enter heifer validation information to www.texaslivestockvalidation.com
November 8, 2025 -
Physical validation paperwork, including DNA hair envelopes, must be postmarked and sent to Texas 4‐H Headquarters (note address change).
November 21, 2025 -
Projected deadline for all validation information to be reviewed by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
November 30, 2025 -
Projected deadline for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to notify all exhibitors with ineligible heifers and major livestock show officials for fall shows.

**SPECIAL NOTE**: Once a heifer is validated, she is eligible until the end of her show career unless (underline) she changes breed or ownership. *Important: If there are any changes made on the registration papers at any time during the feeding period, contact dottie.goebel@ag.tamu.edu.