1. Identification Systems

2. What are ID Systems? Animal identification systems are uniform numbering systems allowing one to:  Identifying animals Individual Identification Group Identification  Obtain information about the spread of illness and disease  Track individual animals during transport and relocation

3. Forms of ID Systems Individual Identification  Any animal can be identified  Method of ID varies by species  ID stays with animal for the remainder of its life Group Identification  Groups of animals moved together to processing unit

4. Benefits of ID Systems Disease Control  ID system shows which animals were involved in the disease outbreak  ID tells where the infected animals are currently located  ID tells what other animals might have been exposed to the disease Tracking  Tracks the movement of animals during transport to insure proper delivery

5. Types of ID Systems Branding Ear Tagging Ear Notching Tattooing

6. Branding Originally used to show ownership Used today to identify individual animals Uses a metal instrument to burn or to freeze a mark on the animal

7. Branding Electric Branding Iron Traditional and Freeze Branding Iron

8. Branding Angle Branding was developed in the 1960’s  Uses 2 squares with one rotated an eighth of a turn and two double bars  Each symbol represents an individual number 1 0 3 2 4 5 6 7 8 9

9. Branding Stacked Symbols  This identifies the year the animal was born

10. Branding Rowed Symbols  This is the unique individual number given to a specific animal

11. Branding Reading Brand  Year Born=08  ID Number = 374

12. Ear Tagging A plastic ear piece is placed in the ear of the animal using special pliers  This system of identification allows for easy identification from the front however, is less accessible from the rear  Semi-permanent

13. Ear Tagging Ear Tagging Pliers

14. Ear Notching A special tool is used to cut out little “V” notches on the animal’s ear  Each animal is given a specific number of notches in specific places on the ear to make up an individual number  Permanent identification system common in pigs

15. Ear Notching

16. In order to determine which ear to notch, one looks at the ears from the rear of the animal  Notches in the pig’s right ear indicate litter number  Notches in the pig’s left ear indicate individual number

17. Ear Notching The left ear can only have notches that represent 1,3 and 9. The notches may be doubled to produce a total of 26

18. Ear Notching The right ear can only have notches that represent 1,3,9, 27 and 81. The notches may be doubled (except for 81) to produce a total of 161

19. Ear Notching Reading Ear Notches  Total the numbers represented for each individual ear Litter # (pigs right ear) Individual # (pigs left ear) Litter # = 1+1+9+81 Litter # = 92 Litter # = 1+3+3+27 Litter # = 34 Indiv. # = 1+1+3+9 Indiv. # = 14 Indiv. # = 1+3+3 Indiv. # = 7

20. Ear Notching Reading Ear Notches  Combine the results for both ears Litter # = 1+1+9+27 Litter # = 38 Indiv. # = 1+3 Indiv. # = 4 Identification # = 38-4 Litter # = 3+3+81 Litter # = 87 Indiv. # = 3+9 Indiv. # = 12 Identification # = 87-12

21. Tattooing A special tool puts inked numbers in the ears, lips, or other locations on the animal  Permanent, simple and relatively painless