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For many centuries now, animal breeders or private owners have been using a range of different methods and markings to make their animals recognisable.
Identification here means the visual expression of the identity of a person, animal or object. Methods of animal identification used in the past, and indeed still used today, include:
Branding (hot or cold brand)
Here, whether the method was used on cattle, horses or on animals captured in the wild that were to become part of the owner's breeding stock or property, the owner's mark was branded onto the skin of the animal's neck, thigh or girth area.
For this, the farmer or the livestock dealer would bring the herd together in one central location, where they would then mark the animals using a hot or cold brand.
The brand-mark is a specific sign that is connected with the farm or breeding establishment in question.
Because of this, in former days brand-marks would often consist of the owner's initials or of fantasy symbols, which would have to be set down in a "Brand Book" along with precise details of their origins.
At first farmers favoured the hot brand - that is, branding with a red-hot iron - exclusively.
Today, however, the cold brand is also used. This involves dipping the branding iron in liquid nitrogen, thus bringing its temperature down to as low as -196° Celsius. Once the iron has been cooled down sufficiently, it is applied to the animal's skin, creating a "burn mark" (similar to that created by a hot brand) where the colour pigmentation of the roots of the animal's hair has been destroyed.
Tattooing
The classic method of identification is tattooing.
Tattooing may only be carried out by qualified specialists, preferably with the animal under a general anesthetic.
After a few years, the tattoo may fade, rendering it difficult to read and liable to misreading; it can also be forged quite easily.
Notching
Notching entails using a special pair of pliers to cut various forms of notches into the animal's ear. Not only is this method extremely painful, it is also highly imprecise. The animal's skin continues to change and grow, and this constant change frequently distorts the original and true form of the mark. As a result the information to be read often becomes all too easy to misread, or indeed downright illegible.
Painting
This method is especially popular in poorer countries (e.g. Mongolia).
Here, coloured paint is applied to the animals' legs.
This procedure is extremely time-consuming, since it has to be repeated at regular intervals.
Collar bands or ankle bands with or without registration numbers
The particular shape of their bodies, or specific behavioural traits, make collar bands or ankle bands uncomfortable or unsuitable for many animals. A time-consuming and accurate data capture cannot be avoided when using collar or ankle bands. Because the animals are constantly in motion, it is not uncommon for collar bands or ankle bands to be lost.
Furthermore, this form of identification is extremely vulnerable to manipulation.
Metal ear tags
The use of metal ear tags to identify agricultural animals can hold many dangers for the animal thus identified.
Infection may arise directly after the ear tag is applied.
The metal ear tag is extremely difficult to read, since the identifying mark can often be covered with dirt and filth.
Modern, safe and humane methods of animal identification include the following:
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special plastic ear tags
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electronic identification
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to enable full and accurate traceability, DNA analysis.
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