SHONE FARM BEEF CATTLE GUIDELINES
IDENTIFICATION
Identification of Beef animals is necessary and important for many reasons. Cattle rustling (theft)
is still occurring in California and unmarked animals are at a greater risk of being stolen. The
Bureau of Livestock Identification regulates the use of brands and Brand Inspectors monitor the
sale of cattle to verify ownership. Sick and Injured animals also need to be easily identified in order
to separate them from the herd, if necessary, to be treated.
Identification also aids managers in record keeping: Selection and Genetics can be improved by
identifying sires and dams and their progeny; Health Records and tracking favorable traits and/or
unfavorable traits or issues depends on identification of individual animals as well.
Methods used to identify cattle at Shone Farm include Hot Iron Branding and Ear Tagging. Hot
Iron Branding is the only legal method for proof of ownership, currently, in California. All brands
must be registered with the California Bureau of Livestock Identification (www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/li/).
Ear Tagging allows staff to identify age and identity each individual animal. Lost Ear Tags are
replaced with the identical identification and color of the lost tag (i.e. 08-06 is replaced with 08-06 –
an animal’s Ear Tag identification and color stay with it as long as it resides at Shone Farm).
Santa Rosa, Jr. College – Shone Farm’s brand is “Bar” JC and the brand is found on the right
hip of each animal.
JC
Ear Tags used at Shone Farm are large, pierce the ear and are either “Color-Layered Engravable”
or the type where identification can be written on with a permanent pen. Cattle are eartagged as
soon after birth as possible: bull calves, on the right ear and heifer calves on the left ear in
order to allow for a Brucellosis tag on her right ear.
Ear Tags are applied so that the identification faces forward (when the handler is facing the animal,
the identification can be read). The handler shall take care to avoid piercing through large blood
vessels by piercing between the blood vessels [see pictures]. The handler should apply the tag far
enough up the ear - toward the animal’s head - so as not to increase likelihood of injury to the ear or
increase the risk of the calf catching it in a fence due to the ear bending or drooping forward.
Every Ear Tag identification starts with the year the calf is born followed by a “dash” and then the
number coinciding with the order of birth that year. For instance, a calf born 6th in 2008 would be
identified as 08-06. Every new calving season, a different color Ear Tag is used. This allows all
handlers to quickly identify the age of each animal.
Shone Farm is looking into utilizing Electronic I.D. Ear Tags in the near future.
SHONE FARM – BEEF CATTLE
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SHONE FARM BEEF CATTLE GUIDELINES
~ STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE ~
Identification
Ear tagging:
1. The calving field is checked by staff a minimum of 3 times per day for new or untagged calves.
2. Upon discovering a new and/or untagged calf, a minimum of 2 staff members gently restrain the calf
and apply an ear tag.
3. Ear tags are placed on the left ear of heifer calves and right ear of bull calves.
4. Ear tags are punched into the ear between the blood vessels and away from the tip.
5. Ear tags are placed so that the numbers can be seen while facing the calf.
6. If a calf loses a tag, a new one should be made and applied as soon as possible.
Ear tags:
Tools
 Ear Tagger
 Ear Tags
 Ear Tag Buttons
Record Sheet
Technique
1. Ear tags shall be a different color every year.
2. Ear tags shall be prepared before calves are born.
3. Ear tags shall be prepared by having identification numbers engraved into them or, in the case
that engravable tags are not available, numbers shall be written on each ear tag with an ear tag
permanent pen.
4. Ear tags shall be numbered by engraving the year, a “dash” and then the number of calf born
that year. Ex: the first calf born in 2013 shall have the ear tag 13-01.
SHONE FARM – BEEF CATTLE
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SHONE FARM BEEF CATTLE GUIDELINES
Ear tagging
Number facing
forward
SHONE FARM – BEEF CATTLE
Heifer Calf
Bull Calf
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SHONE FARM BEEF CATTLE GUIDELINES
~ STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE ~
Identification
Branding:
Tools
 Branding Iron
 Electric Clippers
 2 Extension Cords
 Rope
Record Sheet
Technique
1. Most branding shall be done by students in classes as a learning opportunity.
2. Any branding unable to be done by students in class shall be completed by staff.
3. The Branding Iron shall be plugged in far enough in advance so that it is at its hottest point
when branding the calves.
4. Each calf is to be brought into the calf chute/table where it is turned on its side.
5. The right hip of the calf shall be shaved with electric clippers.
6. The brand shall be placed on the animal’s right hip and held there until the brand is prominently
displayed and legible on the skin of the calf.
SHONE FARM – BEEF CATTLE
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SHONE FARM BEEF CATTLE GUIDELINES
Branding
Heifer
Brand
Brucellosis
Tag
Farm
Eartag
Right Hip
SHONE FARM – BEEF CATTLE
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