Identification Systems Animal Science 1

Competency 11.0 Differentiate identification systems used in the animal industry.

Objectives : Define identification systems including branding, ear notching, and tagging that are used in the animal industry : Select animals according to a given identification system.

Branding Uses a metal instrument to burn or to freeze a mark on the animal The original use was to show ownership NOT individual animal identification numbers

Branding Provides a permanent method of identifying animals. Animals are usually branded prior to weaning. The Beef Improvement Federation recommends the use of a lettering system to represent the year of birth.  This reduces the number of items that are branded on the animal.  Provides uniformity for all breeds.  Example: 2013= A, 2014=B, 2015=C, etc.

Ear Tagging Uses special pliers to attach plastic pieces with numbers on them Easy to read from front view but is less permanent than some systems

Ear Tagging Tags are made of plastic or metal. The same lettering system representing the year of birth can also be used on ear tags.

Ear Notching Uses a special notching tool to cut little “V” notches on animal’s ears

Tattooing tattooing.htm

Tattooing Uses a special tool to put inked numbers in ears, lips or other locations It is permanent, simple and relatively painless to use

Tattooing Utilizes a lettering system to represent the year of birth. More difficult to read than other systems.

Animal Identification Use the information in the references to learn what the numbering systems mean and how to read the codes.

Angle Brand System Uses two square with one rotated an eighth of a turn “O” on the brand is horizontal double bars  = “1” is vertical double bars  II

Ear Notching View animal by standing behind it to determine the left and right ears.

Ear Notching Right Ear Notches indicate litter number

Ear Notching Left Ear Notches indicate individual number

Ear Notching What the notches mean: Notch on bottom of ear near the head: 1 Notch on bottom near tip of ear: 3 Notch on the tip of ear: 81 Notch on top near tip: 9 Notch on top near head: 27

Ear Notching The left ear only has notches in the 1, 3, and 9 spots. Two notches can be made at each of these places. 27 and 81 are not needed for individual numbers in the litter.