Managing Livestock Identification Adv Animal Science Sources Oklahoma

Managing Livestock: Identification Adv Animal Science Sources: Oklahoma State University Extension Duncan Emrich

Types of Marking Permanent • Brands • Tattoos • Microchips • Ear Notching

Types of Marking Temporary • Wax crayon/chalk • Ear tag • Leg band • Paint

Ear Tags • Identification Systems • Bangs Vaccinated Tags – Verification of vaccination for brucellosis

Branding Many types of branding • Hot iron branding – Fire/iron – Electrical • Freeze branding • Paint branding

Branding Why branding? • Permanent marking system to identify ownership • Allowed cattle to be sorted out if they became mixed up (open range, etc)

Branding History • 4, 000 year old art shows Egyptians branding • Brought to US by Spaniards in 1600’s • Brand registration began in 1870’s • Mavericks

Branding • Which type is better? – Freeze causes least damage and is permanent, but doesn’t work on white cattle – Hot iron is permanent but can damage hide, hurt animal – Paint is not permanent

Branding How do you read a brand? 1) Left-to-right 2) Top-to-bottom 3) Outside-in

Branding • Placement - Cattle – Shoulder – Rib – Hip – Left or Right • Other species – Horses: jaw and above – Sheep: jaw or nose

Branding • Key to Brand Design – Easy to read – Simple has best results – Connection to ranch/business/etc

Branding