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 in the case of com- 
mercial cattle, but it is necessary to give each animal some 
number 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 
particularanimal. Theother 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 
