Ag Fact! 5/1
• More beef is consumed on ______________
than any other day of the year (___________
and _____________ tie for second)!
Ag Fact! 5/1
• More beef is consumed on Memorial Day than
any other day of the year (Fourth of July and
Labor Day tie for second)!
Managing Livestock:
Identification
Animal Science
Introduction to Agricultural 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 Marking
• Used in pigs
• Different combinations tell you the litter
number and the individual pig
• Can’t use tags – will come off in the pen
Ear Marking
Ear Marking
Quiz!
Question 1
Quiz!
Question 1
Answer: Litter 16, Pig 3
Quiz!
Question 2
a) Mark the pig for litter 22, pig number 6
b) Mark a pig for litter 35, pig number 11
c) Mark a pig for litter 13, pig number 2
Quiz!
Question 2
Ear Tags
• Scrapie Tags – Sheep
– Identification of origin
• Bangs Vaccinated Tags – Cattle
– Verification of vaccination for brucellosis
NAIS
• National Animal Identification System
• Current events led to NAIS in 2004
– Cow originally from Canada with BSE (mad cow)
found in Washington
– Other countries ban US beef imports
Why a National ID System?
• Increase Consumer Confidence
– food safety
• Ensure Market Access
– international recognition
– increase exports
– avoid trade barriers
• Animal Health
• Bio Security
NAIS
• NAIS Purpose: Maintaining HEALTH of the
livestock in the United States is the most
urgent issue for the industry
• NAIS Goal: Identify animals and premises that
had direct contact with a animal disease of
concern (FAD) within 48 hours after detection.
NAIS
Essential Components
• National Premises Identification System
• Individual Animal Identification System
• Essential information transfer
NAIS
Premise Identification
• Premise: a location with an address, livestock
and/or livestock handling facilities
– applicable to all livestock species
– 7-character alphanumeric number
– National Premises Number Allocator
– Managed by states
NAIS
Which “Premises” need a Premise ID number?
• Farms and Ranches
• Livestock Shows
• Livestock Markets
• Feedlots
• Processing Facilities
• Veterinary Clinics
• Collection Points
NAIS
• The controversy
– Many see NAIS as
expensive, difficult, and
unneeded
– Some see NAIS as a
violation of privacy
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
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
NAIS
• Write two paragraphs that complete the
following:
– What are the benefits and drawbacks of NAIS?
What is your opinion?
– What are the advantages and disadvantages of
branding? What is your opinion?
– Turn this in when done to the inbox!