livestock identification

Identification tracks specific animals and is used for various purposes including medical records, breeding records, consumption, and farm records. There are two types of identification: permanent and temporary.

Identification is used on various species such as:

• Cattle

• Pigs

• Sheep

• Goats

• Sometimes horses

Tools used to identify these animals include:

• Tattoo (considered better as they are permanent)

• Car tags

RFID - Electronic Ear Tags

• New and expensive

• Traces animals

• Uses RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)

• Can be implanted under the skin or attached to the ear

Branding

• Dates back to 2700 BC as depicted in Egyptian tombs

• Recorded by state agencies to prevent copying

• Important for proving ownership of lost or stolen animals

• Highly visible and difficult to alter

Registering Brands

• Must include at least 2 characters or shapes

• Must specify the brand's location (left or right hip, shoulder, or rib)

• Need to state whether the brand is hot or freeze

Hot Branding

• Uses a properly heated iron that is the color of ashes

• Best done with a wood fire

• If the iron is too thin (less than 3/8 inch), it will scar

• Some brands may use electric branding

Freeze Branding

• Utilizes liquid nitrogen or dry ice and alcohol to cool the irons

• The procedure freezes hair follicles, causing the hair to grow back white

• More visible than hot brands

Reading Brands

• Brands can consist of capital letters, numbers, pictures, and characters

• Can be joined, upright, or combinations of styles

• Must be read from left to right, top to bottom, or enclosed outside in.