FarmFarm AnimalAnimal AS-556-W ManagementManagement @Purdue@Purdue Methods of Livestock Identification Michael Neary, Extension Animal Scientist Ann Yager, Animal Sciences Student Animal identification is the basis for nence, and how easy or difficult the keeping accurate production records method is to apply. Two different of the herd/flock. Individual animal methods should be used to assure identification allows producers to permanent identification. Once a keep records on an animal's parentage, system has been selected, it is impor- birth date, production records, health tant to be consistent with providing history, and a host of other important each animal a unique and permanent management information. Accurate identification number that matches with records provide the producer with each method used. Be careful not to enough information to make indi- duplicate numbers over a minimum of a vidual or whole herd/flock manage- ten-year period. ment decisions. In many instances, When an animal is born/purchased, it the producer needs to be able to should be identified immediately with quickly identify an animal. A suc- only one unique number, which will cessful identification system makes serve as its identification number until this task more efficient. Identification it departs from the herd/flock. Purdue University is also important to indicate owner- Numbering Systems ship of a particular animal, or to Department of There are many numbering systems indicate the herd/flock of origin. that can be used to identify animals in a Animal Sciences There are many identification herd. One of the most commonly used systems, but selection should be based and highly recommended systems uses on the method that best fits an a combination of letters and numbers, operation's needs. Factors such as size designating birth year and birth order, of the operation, type of records kept, Table 1: Letter identification system. 1990 – Z 1994 – D 1998 – H 2002 – M 2006 – S 2010 – X 1991 – A 1995 – E 1999 – J 2003 – N 2007 – T 2011 – Y 1992 – B 1996 – F 2000 – K 2004 – P 2008 – U 2012 – Z 1993 – C 1997 – G 2001 – L 2005 – R 2009 – W 2013 – A Source: Beef Cattle Identification Methods. Nelson et al. and source of replacement breeding respectively. Such a system is shown stock, determines which system(s) to in Table 1. The letters O, Q, V, and I choose. When selecting forms of are not used, they could be mistaken as identification, consider the application numbers. This leaves 22 letters, which methods for each type, along with when combined with numbers can form visibility from a distance, equipment the basis for individual animal identifi- needed for application, cost, perma- cation. This system ensures a unique number will not be replicated over a 22- year period. For example, an animal with the ID number L10 or L010 was the 10th animal born into the herd in 2001. Table 2: Number identification system Year of Birth Birth Order ID 1995 1st 5001 2002 10th 2510 2011 100th 1100 2015 50th 5050 2 2021 150th 1650 Ann Yager Figure 1: A pig after removal of a v-shaped Another system, which can be used for notch at the 3-position on the right ear. smaller herds of less than 500, consists of using only numbers to indicate birth year Ear notching involves removing V- and birth order. The ID number is made shaped portions of the pig's ear that up using the last digit of the birth year as correspond to a specific litter number and the first number of the identification also an individual pig number from that number. The next three numbers of the ID litter. Not all operations find it necessary correspond to the birth order. To avoid to notch ears at processing, and some may duplication in this system, use _001 -- only notch a litter number, or the week of _499 for the first ten years (from 1990- birth. It is necessary to notch a pig's ears 2000), and _500 -- _999 for the second for litter and individual numbers when the ten years (from 2001-2010), rotating pig needs to be recognized separately from every ten years. For example, in Table 2, other pigs. Pigs being kept as replacement the animals born in 1995, 2011, and 2015 breeding stock and for exhibition purposes are identified using the last digit of their need to be ear notched. Ear tags are often birth year, and the ending from _001 -- used in conjunction with ear notches in a _499, depending on their birth order. The breeding herd. animals born in 2002 and 2021 are identi- fied using the last digit of their birth year, followed by adding their birth order to a number from _500 --_999, to get the last three digits of their ID number. Identification Methods Ear Notching (Figure 1) Ear notching is widely used in the swine industry as a system of animal identification. There are variations in systems, but all of them identify a pig by litter number and indi- vidual pig number. Ear notching can also be used in other animal species, but it is not utilized as widely as it is in the swine Ann Yager industry. Figure 2: Ear notching system used by the purebred swine associations of the United States. There are many systems of ear notching, To notch ears, use an appropriate sized but when using the system of ear notching notcher, according the age of the animal. required by the purebred swine associa- It is important to keep the equipment in tions of the United States, the litter num- disinfectant to prevent infection. Ear ber is notched in the pig's right ear, and notching causes minimal stress to the pigs, the individual pig number is notched in and they can be returned immediately the pig's left ear (See Figure 2). The back to the crate. The notches will bleed, notches from the right and left ear should but not heavily, and a scab will form in combine to give each pig a unique identi- about a day. The notches will be com- fication number. The notches are num- pletely healed in about a week. It is bered from the bottom of the ear, with the usually easiest to notch ears at the same number one being next to the head. time as other pig processing procedures. 3 Multiplying this number by three will Registered pigs must be notched within 7 give the next notch number (i.e., 3, 9, 27) days of birth. which is adjacent to the area where the Ear Tags previous notch was located. Start at the bottom of the ear next to the head and Ear tags are another common form of continue to the top of the ear, then work identification used in all species. A back toward the head. The exception to number of companies make and sell ear this is the tip of the right ear, which is the tags and corresponding applicators. The position for the 81-notch. flexible, plastic tags can be bought pre- Each notch, with the exception of the numbered (Figure 3), or they can be 81-notch, can only have two notches for purchased as blank tags. The producer any single number. For example, a pig can use ear tag ink to number them ac- identified as 28-3 would be the third pig cordingly. The tags come in a variety of from the twenty-eighth litter. This pig colors and sizes. Selection depends on the would have one notch each at the 27 and age of the animal and the environment 1position on the right ear, and one notch where the animal lives. at the 3 position on the left ear. A pig identified as 18-2 would have two notches each at the 9 and 1 positions on the appropriate ear. Ann Yager Figure 4: Diagram illustrating the 2nd and 3rd ribs of the ear. The tags are pierced through the animal's ear, and allow for an animal to be identified from the front and the back, if the tag is numbered on both sides. Tags should be installed between the second Ann Yager and third cartilage rib (Figure 4) of one or Figure 3: Ear tagging pliers and plastic, both ears, using an applicator gun that pre-numbered tag. chilled branding iron kills the cells that produce color pigment in the hair follicles, but does not kill the growth follicles. After freeze branding, white or colorless follicles are produced in the branded region, which results in a permanent brand (Figure 5). Freeze branding irons come in various sizes and are usually made of copper, copper alloy (brass), or bronze, because of their temperature holding capacity. Some 4 recommended equipment and items to Ann Yager have on hand include: Figure 5: Freeze brand number ‘D98’ on • Holding chute for restraint of the the rump. animal • Container for liquid nitrogen or dry ice corresponds to the type of ear tag being and used. Ear tags are easy to use, flexible in alcohol all types of weather, inexpensive, and • Electric clippers with a surgical blade usually easy to read. There can also be • Grooming equipment for cleaning the limitations with ear tags. They can be brand site ripped from the ear, or become lost if not • Gloves applied properly. Permanent marking ink • Squirt bottle with a solution of 95% is used to number blank ear tags. How- isopropyl alcohol ever, the ink can fade over time. It is • Branding irons recommended that another method of • Timing device identification be used along with ear tags. Freeze Branding Freeze branding is another method of animal identification that allows for animals to be identified from a greater distance than with ear tags.