Animal identification

Animal identification using a means of marking is a process done to identify and track specific animals. It is done for a variety of reasons including verification of ownership, biosecurity control, and tracking for research or agricultural purposes.

Calf identified with ear tag and transponder

History

Individual identification of animals by means of body markings has been practiced for over 3,800 years, as stated in Code of Hammurabi.[1] The first official identification systems are documented as far as the 18th century. In Uruguay for instance maintained at that time a register of hot brands.[2]

Methods

Birds

Sheep

Pigs
  • Collars (electronic and non-electronic)
  • Earmarking
  • Ear tags (non-electronic)
  • Ear tags (electronic)
  • Semi-permanent paint
  • Tattoo

Horses

Cattle

Dogs

Laboratory mice
  • Earmarking (notching or punching)
  • Ear tags (nickel, copper or scannable 2D barcode tags)
  • Microchip implants
  • Hair dye
  • Toe clipping[note 1]
  • Manual tattoos (tail, foot pad or ears)
  • Automated tail tattoos[3]

Fish

Marine mammals
  • Transponders
  • Adhesive tags

Amphibians

Invertebrates
  • Adhesive tags
  • Semi-permanent paint

National animal identification schemes

Footnotes
  1. 'Toe clipping' in mice involves the full or partial amputation of one or more digits as a means of permanent identification.
  • Great frigatebird with a wing tag
  • Bird ring
  • Sheep with an earmark
  • Pig with earmark
  • Horse with a brand
  • Santa Gertudis cattle with electronic and non-electronic ear tags
  • Calf with a non-electronic ear tag, numbered collar and transponder (blue device)
  • Bear with an ear tag and transponder
  • Tattoo inside a Greyhound's ear
  • Dog collar with dog license and other dog tags
  • A microchip implant and applicator
  • A laboratory mouse with an ear tag
  • Fish with a transponder
  • Harbour seal with a transponder
  • Common seal with an adhesive tag
  • European queen honey bee marked with a paint spot surrounded by Africanised honeybees
  • Sheep with painted number
  • Monarch butterfly tagged with a sticker
  • Mussels being tagged

References
  1. Blancou, J (2001). "A history of the traceability of animals and animal products". Revue Scientifique et Technique (International Office of Epizootics). 20 (2): 413–25. PMID 11548516.
  2. "Allflex Corporate Web Site - the history of livestock identification".
  3. Bell, J. "Labstamp system" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  4. Fouilloux, Chloe; Garcia-Costoya, Guillermo; Rojas, Bibiana (2020). "Visible Implant Elastomer (VIE) Success in Early Larval Stages of a Tropical Amphibian Species". PeerJ. 8: e9630. doi:10.7717/peerj.9630. PMC 7425637. PMID 32864207.
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