1. Animal Identification
Methods for Marking Livestock

2. Methods of Animal Identification
Permanent
branding
tattoos
ear notches
Temporary/Non-permanent
ear tags
leg or neck bands
marking paint

3. Why Identify Individuals?
Record Keeping
vaccinations and medicines given
production and breeding records
Tracking Beyond the Farm
if the animal becomes sick after the sale or the carcass is contaminated, they can track it back to the source

4. Let’s Focus on the Universal Pig Ear Notching System
universal and permanent
inexpensive, quick, and easy
individual Identity for each animal
other forms, such as ear tags, could cause problems

5. When to Ear Notch?
best when newborn (1 to 3 days old) or at least less than one week old
heal quickly when young
Image from Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Service

6. How Do You Ear Notch? use a tool called an ear notcher
makes a small v-shaped notch
not too deep or too shallow (about 1/4” on young pigs, 1/2” on older ones)
well-spaced: not too close to the head or too close together
apply disinfectant or antiseptic when finished

7. Pig’s Right Ear (left if looking at the pig)
this is the litter number
all pigs in the same litter must have the same notches in this ear

8. Pig’s Left Ear (right if looking at the pig)
this is the pig number
each pig in the same litter must have different notches in this ear

9. Reading the Notches there may be only 1 or 2 notches per location (location 81 can only have one) add the notches together to determine the number (for example: = 11)

10. Let’s Practice! What is this pig’s litter and pig number?

11. This Pig is: 28 - 6 Litter #: 27 + 1 = 28 Pig #: 3 + 3 = 6