1. Livestock Identification Techniques
Mrs. Albright

2. History Traced back to early settlers in California
Used for management of open range grazing and brucellosis
Traditional technologies are still used today in combination with electronic identification
Basis for keeping accurate production records of herds
Parentage, birth date, health history, etc

3. Current Advantages
National Animal Identification System’s goal is to provide a standard and efficient system to protect U.S. agriculture from disease outbreaks
If a disease outbreak occurred, federal and state officials could use NAIS to ID all animals and premises that came into contact with the initial infected animal within 48 hours
Allows for rapid trace back to the source of disease and illness

4. Types of Identification
There are many types of systems to use but method chosen should suit the operation’s needs
Factors in choosing methods are size of operation, type of records, source of breeding stock, application methods for each type, visibility, equipment required, cost, permanence, and level of difficulty of application

5. Types of Identification
Once a method of ID is selected, it is important to remain consistent with providing each animal a permanent ID number
When an animal is born or purchased, it should be identified immediately with only one unique number
One of the most commonly used systems uses a combination of letters and numbers designating birth year and birth order
This number will not be replicated over a 22-year period

6. Find Your Number (Year-Birth Order-Month-Day)
Birth Month
Number (Roman)
January I
February II
March
III
April IV
May V
June VI
July
VII
August
VIII
September IX
October X
November XI
December
XII
Mr. Albright’s number is ZZ11X26. What is his information?
Find your number.
Figure these out:
H22V27
U00XII20
Birth Order
Number 1 00 2 11 3 22 4 33
5 or more 44

7. X00V11 H22III21 K11VIII8 Give it a shot!
What would the livestock number be for a heifer (first calf born from this particular cow) that was born on May 11, 2010?
What would the livestock number be for the third bull calf born on March 21, 1998?
What would the number be for the second calf twin steer born on August 8, 2000?
Birth Month
Number (Roman)
January I
February II
March
III
April IV
May V
June VI
July
VII
August
VIII
September IX
October X
November XI
December
XII
X00V11
H22III21
K11VIII8
Birth Order
Number 1 00 2 11 3 22 4 33
5 or more 44

8. ID Systems for Small Operations
For operations smaller than 500 head, consists of only numbers used to indicate birth year and birth order
Number is made from the last digit of the birth year as the first number for identification
Example, A calf was born in 2016 so the first number on its ID would be 6
The next numbers correspond to birth order

9. Ear Notching
Widely used in the swine industry as a system of animal identification
Identifies pig by litter number and individual pig number
System that is required by purebred swine associations – litter number is notched in the right ear and individual number is in the left
Combined together they give the pig a unique identification number

10. Ear Notching
Ear notching involves removing V- shaped portions of the pig’s ear that correspond to a specific litter number and also individual pig number from that litter
Some operations only notch the litter number or week of birth
Ear tags are often used in conjunction with a breeding herd

12. Ear Notching
Notches are numbered from the bottom of the ear with number one next to the head. Multiplying this number by three will give the next notch number, adjacent to the area where the previous notch was located
Starting at the bottom of the ear next to the head and continue to the top of the ear, then working back towards the head
Only exception to this is the TIP of the right ear which is the number 81 notch

13. Ear Notching
Each notch, except 81, can only have two notches for any single number
A pig identified as 28-3 would be the third pig from the twenty- eighth litter
This pig’s right ear has two notches in the 9 position so it’s litter number is 18
The left ear has one notch at the 3 and two notches at the 1 so it’s pig number is 5
Overall this pig is 18-5

14. 2-8
14-6

15. 17-4
107-12

16. Notching the Ears Use an appropriate sized notcher
Disinfect equipment in between pigs
The process is minimally stressful to piglets
Notches will bleed lightly but will heal in about a week
Easiest to do other processing procedures while tagging to ensure the least amount of stress is put on animals
Registered pigs must be notched within seven days of birth

17. Ear Tags Common form of identification used in all species
Companies usually make tags and corresponding applicators
Flexible, plastic tags can be bought pre-numbered or blank
Variety of colors and sizes represent different things for each operation

18. Ear Tags
Tags are pierced through the animal’s ear and allow for the animal to be identified from the front and back
Tags should be installed between second and third cartilage rib of one or both ears using an applicator gun
While they are easy to use and inexpensive, downfalls include
Being ripped from an ear
Getting lost if not applied properly
Ink can fade over time if number is written
Secondary identification is recommended in conjunction with ear tagging to prevent losing track of records

19. Freeze Branding
Allows for animals to be identified from a greater distance than with ear tags
Brands can be read year round
Freeze branding involves irons, letters and numbers that have been chilled in liquid nitrogen or dry ice and alcohol
When applied, the chilled branding iron kills cells that produce color pigment in the hair follicles but not the follicles themselves
This results in white or colorless hair growing in the branded area

20. Freeze Branding
Irons usually come in various sizes and come in copper, brass, or bronze because of their ability to hold a cold temperature
Other items needed for freeze branding include
Holding chute for animal restraint
Container with liquid nitrogen or dry ice and alcohol
Electric clippers with a surgical blade
Antiseptic cleaner for brand site
Gloves
Isopropyl alcohol
Branding irons
Stopwatch

21. Freeze Branding
Process consists of cooling the irons through chemical reaction, loading animal in squeeze chute, clipping the hair from the branding area, cleaning and disinfecting the site, application of the isopropyl alcohol, and application of the brand
The following times are used when freeze branding based on animal age and color (add 15 seconds for yearlings)
Black-45 seconds
Dark Red-1 minute
Yellow-1 minute, 15 seconds
White-2 minutes, 15 seconds

22. Freeze Branding
After branding, the area will swell for a few days, scab, then white or colorless hair will grow where the brand was applied
Success of freeze branding depends on animal age, hair color, time of year, branding site, and method of application
Older animals require more time to kill the color producing follicles
White animals are the only ones that require enough time to actually kill the entire follicle where hair will not regrow to make it more visible

23. Freeze Branding
Sites vary- brands can be applied to shoulder, rump, and sometimes cheekbone
Not properly following procedure could result in the branding being unclear
Disadvantages of this method include expense of materials and the inability to remove or replace a brand

24. Neck Chains Common for identifying dairy cattle
Numbered tag is attached to the chain
Should be inspected regularly to ensure that chain is not too tight on growing animals
Possibility of animal getting caught on something and choking themselves
Not a permanent method of identification

25. Electronic Identification
Several types available, including…
Electronic ear tags, microchips, and electronic collars
Involves implanting an electronic chip, miniature radio transponder, and antenna under the skin of an animal
Most common site is the shoulder blades or at base of ear
Permanent and relatively painless to the animal
Specialized equipment required
Concerns of being implanted into animals being raised for meat

26. Paint Branding
Temporary, often used in auction or processing situations, as well as livestock shows
Easily visible
Used to identify animal in sale directory

27. Tattooing
Permanent method used in all species and involves imprinting ID number and letter into animal’s skin using indelible ink
Instrument uses dies made of sharp needlelike projections secured on pliers
Ink usually applied to tattoo site after it has been disinfected
Best permanent method of ID because it does not degrade animal appearance or reduce value of animal

28. Tattooing
Cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs have tattoo placed on inside surface above the first rib of the ear to not interfere with ear tags
Horses often have tattoos inside their upper or bottom lip
Sheep are tattooed on their flank
Pigs are tattooed on their shoulder for carcass ID during slaughter
Purebred animals are required to be identifiable by their breed associations