214 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



Registration and IdentiRcation 



A good plan is to assign a number and name to each 

 animal in the herd. If a calf is dropped, or a new animal 

 is added to the herd, it should likewise be assigned a num- 

 ber. Many breeders use fiber-disk ear tags on which the 

 herd number is stamped. These tags are about the size of 

 a quarter and are durable. They are attached to the ear 

 with an ordinary hog ringer, and if put on properly are not 

 easily torn out. Then, too, they are not easily confused with 

 the small metal tag that is placed in the ears for identifica- 

 tion in tuberculin testing. 



A strap around the neck, to which is attached a metal 

 tag with a number on it, is also used. The strap will last 

 for several years and there is little likelihood of its being 

 lost. However, straps are somewhat more expensive than 

 fiber ear tags. The practice of slitting the ears for identifi- 

 cation is not recommended. It is not only a cruel practice 

 but also gives the animal a bad appearance. 



Tattooing numbers in the ears is practiced by some 

 breeders and is required by some breed associations for 

 identification purposes in connection with advanced register 

 testing. There are tattooing outfits on the market for doing 

 this work. If the tattooing is properly done, it is reliable 

 and will last for the lifetime of the animal. However, the 

 tattoo marks do not show up distinctly on animals having 

 dark skins. Even on light skins the tattoo numbers are 

 often difficult to make out, and it becomes necessary to 

 catch and hold the animal in order to see the numbers. 



A diagram of each animal can be drawn on loose-leaf 

 forms provided by the various breed associations. On the 

 opposite side of this sheet is usually a three or four genera- 

 tion blank pedigree. Forms of this kind filled out for each 

 animal in the herd and kept in a holder will be of great help 

 to the owner, especially if he has purebreds. 



Registration papers on all purebred animals should 

 be on hand. Calves should be registered as soon as prac- 

 ticable. The various national dairy-breed associations fur- 



