:Animal identification
File:A calf with eartag and transponder in Agentina.jpg identified with ear tag and transponder]]
Animal identification using a means of marking is a process done to identify and track specific animals. It is done for a variety of reasons including verification of ownership, biosecurity control, and tracking for research or agricultural purposes.
History
Individual identification of animals by means of body markings has been practiced for over 3,800 years, as stated in Code of Hammurabi.{{Cite journal
| pmid = 11548516
| year = 2001
| last1 = Blancou
| first1 = J
| title = A history of the traceability of animals and animal products
| journal = Revue Scientifique et Technique (International Office of Epizootics)
| volume = 20
| issue = 2
| pages = 413–25
}} The first official identification systems are documented as far as the 18th century. In Uruguay for instance maintained at that time a register of hot brands.{{Cite web|url=http://www.allflex-group.com/front-offices/anglais/119-the_history_of_livestock_identification.aspx?idparentnode=120|title=Allflex Corporate Web Site - the history of livestock identification|access-date=2012-01-07|archive-date=2014-08-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819085853/http://www.allflex-group.com/front-offices/anglais/119-the_history_of_livestock_identification.aspx?idparentnode=120|url-status=dead}}
Methods
=Biometrics=
{{excerpt|Biometrics|Animal biometrics}}
=Birds=
- Leg rings
- Wing tags
- Microchip implants (parrots)
- Telemetry (falconry birds)
=Sheep=
- Freeze branding
- Branding (hot-iron)
- Collar
- Earmarking
- Ear tags (non-electronic)
- Ear tags (electronic)
- Semi-permanent paint
=Pigs=
- Collars (electronic and non-electronic)
- Earmarking
- Ear tags (non-electronic)
- Ear tags (electronic)
- Semi-permanent paint
- Tattoo (see animal tattoo)
=Horses=
- Collars (non-electronic)
- Branding (hot-iron)
- Branding (freeze)
- Microchip implants
- Lip tattoo
=Cattle=
=Dogs=
- Collar
- Microchip implants
- Tattoo
=Laboratory mice=
- Earmarking (notching or punching)
- Ear tags (nickel, copper or scannable 2D barcode tags)
- Microchip implants
- Hair dye
- Toe clipping{{#tag:ref|'Toe clipping' in mice involves the full or partial amputation of one or more digits as a means of permanent identification.|group="note"}}
- Manual tattoos (tail, foot pad or ears)
- Automated tail tattoos{{cite web|url=http://actstraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/1115-2011-August-Labstamp-Power-Point-for-demos.pdf |author=Bell, J. |title=Labstamp system. |accessdate=February 26, 2015 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226141008/http://actstraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/1115-2011-August-Labstamp-Power-Point-for-demos.pdf |archivedate=February 26, 2015 }}
=Fish=
- Microchip implants
- Fin clipping
- Coded wire tag
- Passive integrated transponder
- Acoustic tag
- Visible implant elastomer (VIE)
=Marine mammals=
- Transponders
- Adhesive tags
= Amphibians =
- Microchip implants
- Toe clippings
- Passive integrated transponder
- Visible implant elastomer (VIE){{cite journal |last1=Fouilloux |first1=Chloe |last2=Garcia-Costoya |first2=Guillermo |last3=Rojas |first3=Bibiana |title=Visible Implant Elastomer (VIE) Success in Early Larval Stages of a Tropical Amphibian Species |journal=PeerJ |year=2020 |volume=8 |pages=e9630 |doi=10.7717/peerj.9630 |pmid=32864207 |pmc=7425637 |doi-access=free }}
=Invertebrates=
- Adhesive tags
- Semi-permanent paint
National animal identification schemes
- British Cattle Movement Service in Britain
- National Animal Identification and Tracing in New Zealand
- National Animal Identification System in the United States
- National Livestock Identification System in Australia
Wildlife photo-identification
{{excerpt|Wildlife photo-identification}}
Footnotes
{{reflist|group="note"}}
Gallery
File:Wing tag Great Frigatebird.JPG|Great frigatebird with a wing tag
File:Kaka parrot foot.jpg|Bird ring
File:Notched ear sheep.jpg|Sheep with an earmark
File:Penn state university pigs.jpg|Pig with earmark
File:Branded Shackleford Pony.jpg|Horse with a brand
File:Santa Gertrudis.jpg|Santa Gertudis cattle with electronic and non-electronic ear tags
File:A calf with eartag and transponder in Agentina.jpg|Calf with a non-electronic ear tag, numbered collar and transponder (blue device)
File:Bear with identification.jpg|Bear with an ear tag and transponder
File:Greyhound right ear tattoo.jpg|Tattoo inside a Greyhound's ear
File:DogTags license fxwb.jpg|Dog collar with dog license and other dog tags
File:134 2khz rfid animal tag.jpg|A microchip implant and applicator
File:Lab mouse mg 3308.jpg|A laboratory mouse with an ear tag
File:Tagging for future reference - geograph.org.uk - 1220926.jpg|Fish with a transponder
File:Halichoerus grypus Telemetry.jpg|Harbour seal with a transponder
File:Sealwithhattag.jpg|Common seal with an adhesive tag
File:Apis mellifera scutellata 1355021.jpg|European queen honey bee marked with a paint spot surrounded by Africanised honeybees
File:Ewe with lamb - geograph.org.uk - 1119783.jpg|Sheep with painted number
File:Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus Tagged Closeup 3008px.jpg|Monarch butterfly tagged with a sticker
File:Tagging mussels (7008974195).jpg|Mussels being tagged