1. Dairy and Beef Cattle ID Methods

2. Types of identification
Dairy Identification
Ear tags
Branding (hot and freeze)
Neck Chains/Collars
Tattoos
Leg Bands
Electronic Identification (i.e. Barcode) 
Beef Identification
Ear Tags
Tattoos
Branding (hot and freeze)
Nose Printing
Neck Chains/Collars

3. Why is it important?
assist cattle producers in maintaining records for genetic and management decisions
Minimizes confusion and errors in recording and tracking animal information

4. Dairy Cattle Identification
The most common methods of marking Dairy cattle are ear tags, branding, and neck chains or collars. 
Less common methods of marking Dairy cattle include Tattoos, leg bands, and electronic identification.

5. Beef Cattle Identification
The most common methods of marking Beef cattle are ear tags, tattoos and hot brands. 
Less common methods of marking Beef cattle include freeze brands, and neck chains. 

6. Ear tags Most widely used for cattle identification
Tag is placed on the animal by piercing a hole in the ear with a secure backing 
Always avoid the cartilaginous ribs of the ear  
Choose flexible portion of ear 
Use an applicator gun to tag both ears 
Producers may purchase preprinted tags or choose to write his or her own numbers on the tags 
It is important to make sure tags can be read at a distance  
Come in a variety of colors and types 
*It is recommended that another method of identification be used along with ear tags.

7. Placement

8. Positives Pros Flexible tags help with retention
It may aid in sorting to tag steers and heifers in opposite ears or with different-colored tags
Allow identification from the front and back 
Easy use
Easy to read
Flexible in all weather 
Inexpensive 

9. Negatives 
Cons   
Limitations in brushy areas   
Risk of being ripped from ear 
Can loose if not applied properly   
Permanent ink may fade   
Risk of infection 

10. Hot Branding
Hot branding is permanent. Farmers often use it as a precaution against thieves. 
Most brands are placed on the hip, side, or the shoulder. 
Hot branding is done with a hot iron. It is important to make sure the iron is the right temperature. 
Irons that are the incorrect temperature can cause unnecessary pain and the wound will take longer to heal. 
Making sure the animal is restrained is extremely important. Movement can mess up the brand and slow down the process. 
When done correctly, branding should take 3-5 seconds. 

11. Positives
Pros
Thieves are not able to remove this form of identification 
It is quick and causes minimal pain 
The brand can be placed in several areas

12. Negatives
Cons 
Hot branding can result in infection 
Movement can result in an unreadable brand 
If the temperature is not exact, excess pain and injury can be a result 
The brand results in scarring, causing damage to the hide 

13. Freeze Branding Just like hot branding, freeze branding is permanent.
The brands are usually placed on the side, hips, or shoulders. 
Freeze branding kills pigment cells. This results in a regrowth of white hair at the site of the brand. 
The iron is cooled in liquid Nitrogen or dry ice at temperature of –100 to –200 degrees Celsius. 
Restraint is important when branding. Too much movement can mess up the brand. 
When done correctly, placing a freeze brand should take around 30 seconds. 

14. There is minimal to no scarring. It is quick and causes minimal pain.
Positives
Pros 
There is minimal to no scarring. 
It is quick and causes minimal pain. 
The brand can be placed several places. 

15. It takes a little bit longer than hot branding
Negatives
Cons 
It takes a little bit longer than hot branding 
It is more expensive than hot branding 
It does not work well on cattle with light hair. 

16. Neck chains/collars 
Common method to identify dairy cattle 
Neck chains have a numbered tag attached that corresponds to that animal's identification number 
Chain or rope should be placed around the animal's neck 
Must be tight enough to stay in place but loose enough to allow easy breathing and growth for young animals

17. Neck Chains/collars Pros Simple application Painless to animal
Fairly easy to see 
Cons 
If growing animals are not inspected frequently the chain may become too tight 
Risk of chain becoming caught and choking the animal 
Not permanent 
Hard to see when animals are grouped together

18. Tattoos Similar to human tattooing procedure for humans
Ink is put into the animal’s skin in a series of dots that outline numbers or symbols 
Tattoo ink is put under the skin inside the ear  
Special tattoo pliers puncture the skin and leave a permanent marking 
Combination of permanent tattoos with ear tags may be helpful 
Most breed associations require that cattle have ear tattoos for registration 
Required part of identification of animals for brucellosis vaccination and monitoring programs

19. Tattoos Pros Permanent
In black-hided cattle, the inner area of the ear is generally lighter, which allows the tattoo to be more visible 
Cons 
Since tattoos are inside the animal’s ear, the animal must be restrained to read the tattoo 
Process is time consuming 

20. Tattooing process
1. Thoroughly clean inside of the ear with a cotton ball or gauze soaked in rubbing alcohol 2. Place the needed tattoo numbers in the tattoo pliers 3. Test on cardboard to make sure it is correct 4. Firmly clamp the ear with tattoo pliers 5. Avoid cartilage ribs of the ear 6. Rub tattoo ink in punctures until bleeding ceases *A toothbrush works well to ensure ink is worked into the tattoo

21. Electronic identification
Called EID tags 
Not widely used  
Typically require use of a reader, computer and the required computer software 
Pros 
EID offers the use of computerized tracking and scanning systems for recording and storing animal records as compared to visual systems 
Save time by eliminating manual records 
Manage herd more accurately  
Cons 
The EID systems need special reading devices and may have limited range 
Costly 
Requires a lot of additional equipment

22. Nose Printing  
Nose prints are just like finger prints. Every print is unique. 
There are two nose printing methods: 
One is the ink method which is similar to when we get our fingerprints taken. 
The other is just using a black and white camera to take a close up picture of the nose. 
Nose printing is not a very common method 

23. Pros  
A nose print is the same throughout the animals life.  
It is simple.   
It is a cheap identification method.  
Cons  
The method does not leave an identifying mark on the animal.  
It should not be used as the only form of identification  

24. Leg bands can be either temporary or permanent.
They are uncommon with cattle as they can fall off easily. 
They are often used to indicate milking status

25. Numbering systems
A number should not be duplicated for at least 10 years 
Should not be more than four digits so it can be read easily 
Calves are sometimes given the same number as their mother 
This simplifies record keeping for calving data 
If these calves remain in the herd, they will receive their own individual number according to the specific numbering system 
Computerized record-keeping systems can be used 
The best numbering system is one that is simple and easy to read 

26. Numbering Systems
A common system involves including the last digit of the year (e.g., 1 in the year of 2011) as the first digit of the animal identification   
Works great for herds less than 1,000 cows   
As calves are born each year, they are identified with a four-digit number that would begin with the last digit of the year they were born. For example, the first calf in 2011 crop could be tagged 1001
It is advisable to include all the digits in a numbering system on each tag, tattoo or number brand   
For example, in a four-digit system for calves born in 2010, calf number 3 should be identified as This decreases the chance of her being misidentified

27. Numbering Systems
Some breeds and record systems use a letter code to represent a given year. In this system, instead of including a 1 to represent the birth year of 2011, producers would include the appropriate letter code “Y” in the numbering system. See Table.