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2014 Is B & Ear Tagging
ELDON COLE
MT. VERNON, MO.
The international alphabetic letter to use in individual animal identification is B for animals born in 2014. Simplify your ID system and develop it so every animal has its own number. It’s confusing as I go from farm to farm trying to keep track of your various systems. I understand you may know your “code” but when others such as veterinarians, extension folks, etc. try to keep track, it’s difficult.
I encourage you to not use a cow’s number on her calf. Sooner or later a heifer may be kept in the herd and you have duplicate numbers. Some use various tag colors, perhaps to represent the sire. On your animal ID of “B12” does that mean blue 12, black 12, born in 1992 (the last B year) or was the animal given a vitamin B12 shot? Often, when I’m working with Show-Me-Select heifers, numbers get changed midstream. This drives the person entering the data on the computer crazy. Give them a number early in life and stick with it. If you must change tags put the same number on it.
I understand when cattle are sold and change owners you may put your herd ID in that cow or bull. That’s certainly acceptable. I’m fascinated at how many #1 calves are tagged each year. At least they have a number that means something in that herd. If you put your numbers on the tag, have someone with the best penmanship in your operation to do it. Make sure the ink dries quickly without a smudge. A Dremel engraving tool can be used to insure a readable ID for the life of the tag.
Tags cost money and that reduces your profit margin. Budget tag or ID costs into your program. I recall in the past some cattle owners picked up odds and ends ear tags around the head chute at the auction or from a locker plant and reused those tags. If tag expense is a concern you may want to go to a freeze or hot brand for within herd ID. Tags do get lost, but legible brands last forever.
Tags do get pulled out. For this reason we suggest a tag in each ear. Of course, it should be the same number/letter on each tag. Most tag companies offer deals that put your farm name & phone number on the back as a special order. It costs but could be helpful if you have calves or cows that get “lost.” I understand, there are times if a calf is in a highway accident you may not want your name on it.
In closing this item on animal ID, I suggest you study the placement of the tag in the ear in order to reduce lost tags. I prefer locating it at the middle of the ear or slightly higher and towards the head a bit. Lower portions of the ear and towards the ear tip are locations more prone to pullouts. The sturdier locations will require some hair clipping from time-to-time to improve readability.
Ears do have limits on the number of tags they’ll hold. If you still use insecticidal ear tags you may find it helpful to place them on the backside of the ear. Otherwise that tag may cover up the herd ID number.
Ear tags do send messages to others. It means someone has probably tended to other management or health needs of the animal. If a male, it could even be castrated. ∆
ELDON COLE: Livestock Specialist, University of Missouri
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