EAR TAGS FOR IDENTIFICATION IN CATTLE
By Nidhi Sukhija
(M.V.Sc., National Dairy Research institute, Karnal-132001)
Identification of animals implies uniqueness to animals in terms of recognition and addressal. A unique identifier serves to identify the animal or the epidemiological unit covered. Identification by means of body markings has its roots over 3800 years from now (Code of Hammurabi). These marks are promising clues of domestication of animals. Artificial systems of identification include tattooing, branding and tagging. Natural system comprises retinal imaging and molecular markers. However, Combinatorial approach using natural and artificial systems of identification may prove judicious. Another school of thoughts classify identification into permanent and temporary systems. Ear tattooing, ear notches and microchips are permanent methods of identification while ear tagging, chalks and paints are the non permanent methods. Anklets, branding (freeze/hot iron), collars, ear marking, ear tags, rumen bolus and cow bell are used in Cattle. Schemes such as, British Cattle Movement Service in Britain and National Animal Identification System in the US are exemplary in regard to Animal Identification. Giving names to animal may serve identification in small herd but this will not suffice in large herds. Hence, need for in parallel nomenclature aids were realized, which was met by ear tagging mainly. It facilitates record keeping, treatment, ownership rights, bio-security control, culling, tracking whereabouts as well as in selection of replacement stock. Most importantly, tagging ensures the reversal of individual management from group management.
EAR TAGS
Ear tagging is the most commonly used method of identifying. Tags are plastic or metal pieces that have numbers and letters engraved/stamped on them, generally fixed to the ear with special tagging forceps. They are more in use compared to other methods because they can be read without catching the animal, easy-to-use, all-weather-type, easy-to-read and inexpensive. They may be self-piercing type or non-piercing type. One-piece tags are usually wrapped around while the two-piece tags have female and male parts. Male part has a built-in piercing point.
IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS
Identification is usually alpha-numeric. On birth/purchase, the respective animal is identified with one unique number until it departs from herd. For example, if in a farm tag representation of the year 2002 is M, so 2003 will be by successive letter N while 2004 will be shown as P, omitting the letter O because of its resemblance with the numeral 0. Different years may be encoded by the 22 alphabets, excluding O, V, Q and I to avoid confusion with numbers. This means, identification system can be replicated after 22 years.
WHERE?
Common tag site is proximal half of the ear, between the upper and lower cartilage. It should be placed neither too close to head, else it may severe the thicker cartilages and cause necrosis. Nor it should be too away, else it may rip out of ear easily. It should be placed such that it gives free space for the ear to grow. Ear tags may sometimes cause chronic inflammation with Chondrus hyperplasia and osseous metaplasia of ear cartilage.
WHEN?
Optimum age for ear tagging is a matter of ongoing debate. It should be done usually before 6 months of age. In some farms, it is practiced within 20 days of birth while some farmers tag their female sequentially as they reach puberty and enter the herd.
DO’s
- Ear tags should be assigned beforehand, according to the animal number. Sire, dam and date of birth can be stamped additionally. Sometimes reference to research project may also be mentioned. Color of tags can also help in grouping, for example, yellow for heifers and orange for steers.
- Animal should be relaxed. Calf cage can be used to restrain the animal.
- Gentle strokes over the ear may let the calf allow ear handling.
- Clean the site to be tagged, free of hair and debris.
- Tagging tools viz., applicator, stud and button should be cleaned and checked beforehand. They should align properly and should not be bent or broken.
- Squeeze the trigger of applicator and take note of the clicking sound.
- Apply antiseptic over the piercing wound to prevent chances of infection and encourage healing.
- Inspect the tag for a week.
- Cases of ripping away of tags or infection should be resolved with proper antibiotic treatment before reapplication of tag.
- In case of redness and swelling, seek consultation from a local vet.
DON’Ts
- Never practice ear tagging on a windy day and when the stock is wet, to minimize chances of infection.
- Numbered side should appear on the back of ear.
NOVELTIES / STATE-OF-THE-ART
Some farmers use two ear tags as a back-up to the ripping out of one of the tags. Insecticide tags or fly tags are a novel group of tags, like horn flies and face flies, designed to repel pests. Barcoding of ear tags based on Radio Frequency Identification Technology (RFID) are called Electronic Ear Tags (EIDs). Soft polyurethrane tags are currently recommendable for greater retention on animal. Metallic tags have poor readability. In Dairying, Computer vision applications that work on artificial neural networks are in infancy and can be explored to auto-tag the animal, where the images of animals may be used to train the ANN and after validation, can be brought to fields. GPS based cow tracking can serve as an add-on to the evolving concepts of fenceless farming in the suite of precision dairying, based on information technology.
LIMITATIONS AND THEIR SOLUTIONS
Ear tagging is mandatory for most of the genetic improvement programmes as a part of the recommended SOPs. In India, using 12-digit identifier, based on International Committee on Animal Recording (ICAR) recommendations, more than 2.6 crore animals are registered by NDDB. This technique has not fledged to full potential as many farmers are not in favour of tags and hold the following notions:
- It causes unnecessary pain to the animal.
- They find tagging irrelevant in small herds, where they call them by names.
- It decreases the physical beauty of animal.
- It reduces the hide quality, as it causes a punch in their skin.
- It decreases the sale price of their animal.
- Presence of tags may be indicative that the farmer has taken loan from bank or insurance schemes, which may be quite repulsive for farmer.
Awareness meets, on-farm trainings and extension activities should be routinely held endorsing the importance of ear tagging. A federal body regulating animal movement and identification should be enacted, to ensure biosecurity measures, verification of ownership and allied on-farm activities and research.
