The Purpose And Methods Of Marking Livestock

The main reason for marking livestock is the identification of animals based on their ownership and ancestry. This is particularly important in instances of livestock theft, where producers must be able to identify their animals quickly and easily. To make the most of grazing, some producers also let their livestock intermingle with those of other producers. If cattle have been marked, it is easy to distinguish the herds from each other.

- Anneke Wiese

When it comes to marking livestock, the only legal requirement is that cattle must have registered trademarks and/or tattoos on the ear, while sheep must be tattooed inside the ear. The method of branding, whether by gas or freeze branding, depends on the producer.

Another method that makes it both easier to identify livestock and more difficult for third parties to hide the animals’ identity, is cutting a uniquely patterned notch out of the ear.

Ear tags are primarily intended for identifying the age of the animal. Each animal is assigned a number indicating the year of birth, as well as where it is placed in terms of number of animals born in the year.

Preparation and handling