212 DAIRY CATTLE AND MILK PRODUCTION 



death of the owner, who was the only one who knew the indi- 

 vidual animals. 



The common practice of taking dairy-bred calves away from 

 the dams soon after birth to be raised by hand makes it much 

 more uncertain to depend upon memory to identify these ani- 

 mals, than is the case with beef-bred cows where the calf is 

 raised by the mother in the natural way and the owner has 

 several months' time to learn the individuals. 



When a buyer visits a herd, a much better impression is 

 made if every animal bears a tag. Every calf should be 

 tagged in some manner within a few days after birth, and a 

 record made in the herd book to identify the animal. It is 

 important, even in grade herds, especially when large, to have 

 a permanent mark of some kind that may be used as a means 

 of identification if question of ownership should arise. 



There are several methods in more or less general use for 

 this purpose. A common plan is the use of ear tags of various 

 forms, bearing numbers, and, if desired, the name and address 

 of the owner. Some of the forms in use are shown in Fig. 42. 

 The chief objection to these is that they are frequently torn 

 from the ear by being caught in a fence or branch of a tree, 

 and in this way not only is the mark lost, but the animal dis- 

 figured as well. An advantage of this type is that it may 

 be removed and another substituted if desired. In inserting 

 these tags care should be taken not to close them too tightly 

 on the ear, as a soreness may result which leads the animal to 

 rub the ear and tear out the tag. 



Various systems of notching the ear to indicate numbers 

 are also in use. These are satisfactory, except that the ani- 

 mal is disfigured, and the system must be known to read the 

 number. Another method in use is to burn the number on the 



