-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Kkb1f2NJnUA0N2PPLiL5dug9izmuOck/exqyHraSgtc5rukCPUriFdRQxRqiEzKz
 zNAq3Ek62zvOtH2Rr6w7+g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000711377-05-000001.txt : 20050110
<SEC-HEADER>0000711377-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050110
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050110142405
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000711377-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050107
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050110
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050110

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SATOH PAUL S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188991

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17988
		FILM NUMBER:		05520548

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NEOGEN CORP
		STREET 2:		620 LESHER PLACE
		CITY:			LANSING
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48912
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5173729200

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NEOGEN CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000711377
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	IN VITRO & IN VIVO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES [2835]
		IRS NUMBER:				382367843
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0531

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		620 LESHER PLACE
		CITY:			LANSING
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48912
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5173729200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 2:		620 LESHER PLACE
		CITY:			LANSING
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48912
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000711377</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEOGEN CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>neog</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188991</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SATOH PAUL S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>490</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.83</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10856</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>464</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10392</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Richard R. Current, Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----