Animal Identification Methods for Marking Livestock

Methods of Animal Identification Permanent branding tattoos ear notches Temporary/Non-permanent ear tags leg or neck bands marking paint

Why Identify Individuals? Record Keeping vaccinations and medicines given production and breeding records Tracking Beyond the Farm if the animal becomes sick after the sale or the carcass is contaminated, they can track it back to the source

Let’s Focus on the Universal Pig Ear Notching System universal and permanent inexpensive, quick, and easy individual Identity for each animal other forms, such as ear tags, could cause problems

When to Ear Notch? best when newborn (1 to 3 days old) or at least less than one week old heal quickly when young Image from Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Service

How Do You Ear Notch? use a tool called an ear notcher makes a small v-shaped notch not too deep or too shallow (about 1/4” on young pigs, 1/2” on older ones) well-spaced: not too close to the head or too close together apply disinfectant or antiseptic when finished

Pig’s Right Ear (left if looking at the pig) this is the litter number all pigs in the same litter must have the same notches in this ear

Pig’s Left Ear (right if looking at the pig) this is the pig number each pig in the same litter must have different notches in this ear

Reading the Notches there may be only 1 or 2 notches per location (location 81 can only have one) add the notches together to determine the number (for example: 1 + 1 + 9 = 11)

Let’s Practice! What is this pig’s litter and pig number?

This Pig is: 28 - 6 Litter #: 27 + 1 = 28 Pig #: 3 + 3 = 6