How to Use Ear Tags and Applicators for Efficient Livestock ...

In the realm of livestock management, the implementation of ear tags is a fundamental component for homesteaders aiming to maintain orderly tracking and identification of their cattle. Ear tags serve a plethora of purposes, ranging from simplifying record maintenance to facilitating breeding programs and disease control measures. They carry essential data such as the animal's identification number, which is unique to each individual within the herd. This system of identification is critical for a homesteader to keep accurate health records, manage genetic lineages, and ensure each animal can be accounted for.

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Using an ear tag applicator correctly is imperative for the welfare of the animal and the durability of the tag itself. Prior to tagging, the homesteader must ensure that the ear is devoid of dirt and has been disinfected to avert infection. The applicator is then used to place the tag at the optimal site on the ear, which typically is dependent on the type of tag—visual or electronic identification (EID). Placement is key; a tag situated too close to the edge may lead to loss or damage, while a location deeper towards the head can offer a more secure fit due to the thicker cartilage present. Thus, knowing where and how to affix the ear tag is as crucial as the tag's information for successful livestock management.

For homesteaders, the practicality of ear tagging is evident, as it allows for the quick and precise identification of each animal from a distance, streamlining management tasks and enhancing traceability. Nonetheless, this method of livestock identification is not without its potential downsides, such as the loss or damage of tags and the fading of information over time. Being mindful of these challenges, homesteaders can adopt best practices in ear tagging to maximize the benefits of this identification system.

Understanding Ear Tags and Their Importance in Livestock Management

The term "RFID" refers to radio-frequency identification, telling us that those are tags that can be read with a special scanner. These scanners are becoming more common because they make it easier and more efficient to manage, track and identify our animals. An RFID tag can be an all-in-one tag with an 840 number, where the RFID component allows for scanning to show the number printed on the tag.

The 840 tag doesn't have to be an electronic RFID tag. The 840 can simply be a visual, or bangle, ear tag. These are official identification for cattle in all states. They look like traditional ear tags, but they are imprinted with that unique number, which is linked to the animal and the premise (farm or ranch).

These visual tags can be paired with separate RFID button tags. So, producers can apply visual tags with whatever identifying numbers they choose or that are already in the ear, and then link that number back to the official 840 number.

The new official brucellosis identification is an orange RFID button. These are placed in the right ear by the herd veterinarian at the time of vaccination. An official tattoo is placed in the right ear between the middle two cartilage ribs. This tattoo begins with "R" for reduced dose and is followed by the official USDA shield with a "V" in the center, and the last number of the year the calf was vaccinated. USDA prefers producers apply ear tags in the left ear, leaving the right ear for official use.

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All ear tags should be placed two-thirds of the way from the outside edge of the ear, and one-third of the way from the head between the middle two cartilage ribs.

If a visual tag and an EID button are placed in the ear, the EID button should be placed in this location with the visual tag a little closer to the outside of the ear. The female (thicker) portion of the tag should always be to the inside of the ear. The male portion (the part that fits over the pin) should always be to the outside. Placement of the button deep in the ear is not recommended.

Go to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service page on "Brucellosis" for more information on proper identification: www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/nvap/NVAP-Reference-Guide/Control-and-Eradication/Brucellosis.

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Editor's Note: Please contact your veterinarian with questions pertaining to the health of your herd or other animals. Every operation is unique, and the information in this column does not pertain to all situations. This is not intended as medical advice but is purely for informational purposes.

Write Dr. Ken McMillan at Ask the Vet, 2204 Lakeshore Dr., Suite 415, Birmingham, AL 35209, or email vet@progressivefarmer.com.

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