Pure-bred Cattle 115 



service. In all the large auction sales for pure-bred cattle 

 the best age for the bulls is about eighteen months. Some 

 few are sold at the age of twelve months, but unless they 

 are exceptionally growthy and fat, they go at a consider- 

 able discount. 



MARKING 



Pure-bred cattle do not ordinarily require branding in 

 order to establish the ownership, as iii the case of com- 

 mercial cattle, but it is necessary to give each animal some 

 mmiber or other identification mark in order that an 

 accurate record may be kept of the breeding. There are 

 two common methods of marking pure-bred cattle. One 

 is to put a small button or metal in the ear. This tag 

 bears the initials of the owner and the number of that 

 particular animal. The other method is to tattoo the num- 

 ber in the ear. The latter method is by far the most 

 permanent, but the marks are difficult to read except at 

 very close range. In addition to these methods some 

 breeders brand the number on the horns. In this case, 

 if the horn is broken off the number is lost. Such a num- 

 ber is very easily read, and some of the breeders put the 

 tattoo mark in the ear in order to have a permanent mark, 

 and then also put the same number on the horn so as to 

 have a mark that is easily read. On account of its ab- 

 solute permanence, the tattoo is recommended by most 

 breed associations, and, whenever possible, the tattoo 

 number should appear on the certificate of registration. 



MARKETING 



The surplus from the pure-bred herd may be marketed 

 by public auction, or by private sale. An auction of pure- 

 bred cattle, in order to attract any considerable number 



