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Livestock movements, identification and tracing: sheep and goats - best tagging and tattooing practice

  1. Should I use a tag or a tattoo?
  2. What type of ear tag should I order for my animals?
  3. What about the welfare of my animals?
  4. What you need to know about fitting ear tags
  5. Problems with ear tags
  6. What you need to know about tattooing
  7. Preventing the transmission of disease
  8. Problems with tattoos
  9. Further information
  10. Annex I - A comparison of common types of ear tags

1. Should I use a tag or a tattoo?

The law will allow for sheep and goats to be marked by either an ear tag or a tattoo. Each system has its advantages and disadvantages. It is up to keepers to determine the best method of identification for their individual circumstances bearing in mind animal welfare considerations as well as practical and economic ones.

2. What type of ear tag should I order for my animals?

There are many brands of tag designed to be suitable for sheep and goats. Agriculture Departments do not officially approve any particular type, but leave the choice of style and brand to the keeper. Remember that it is important to chose one that is suitable for the breed, size and age of the animal. Research (1) has been carried out for the RSPCA on the suitability of some tag types depending on ease of application, age of sheep and ability to read from a distance. Further details of this research are at Annex I.

3. What about the welfare of my animals?

It is important that ear tagging (or tattooing) is carried out correctly to ensure the welfare of your animals. Taking care will also minimise ear tag losses and associated problems. Follow these guidelines carefully to ensure that the ear tag (or tattoo) is correctly applied and to avoid unnecessary pain or distress to your animals.

4. What you need to know about fitting ear tags

The legislation does not specify which ear should be used for tagging but industry representatives have recommended that in order to be consistent, the left ear of the sheep or goat should be used wherever possible.

  • Make sure that your operator is properly trained and competent.
  • Think carefully about the best type of tags for your animals. Use a suitable style and size of tag for the breed, size and age of animal. Avoid tag designs where the applicator (rather than the tag) punches the hole in the ear. This type of applicator can transmit disease between animals if adequate precautions are not taken;
  • Make sure that the tag is fitted correctly by following the manufacturer’s instructions and use the correct pliers for the model of tag you are fitting.
  • Fit in cool weather (where possible) to minimise ‘fly strike’ and infections.
  • Secure the animal’s head to prevent jerking during tagging.
  • Apply tags under hygienic conditions. Make sure that the ear, tag and applicator are clean. You may wish to consider cleaning your equipment and the area in which you are tagging with disinfectant. You may also wish to consider using a topical insecticide on your animal, but should take care to comply with instructions for each product used, so that health and safety regulations are met, and to avoid residues in meat or milk. Check that the chemical you are using does not remove the writing on the tag.
  • The tag should be placed through the ear, avoiding the main blood vessels and ridges of cartilage. The different styles of tag are designed for different locations in the ear. You should therefore follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the tag to perform in the way it was designed. Remember to allow for ear growth when fitting loop tags.
  • When fitting two piece plastic tags always ensure that the male part of the tag is fitted from the back of the ear as centrally as possible. After insertion, the female part of the tag should be on the inside of the ear.
  • Store unused tags in a clean container.

5. Problems with ear tags

If you have problems with tag retention make sure you are fitting them strictly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. In many cases tags can become detached from the animal because of incorrect insertion. As with any other product, if you have problems with sheep or goat tags, you should discuss these with your supplier. A veterinarian should be consulted in cases of infection. Where you are still dissatisfied with the performance, or there are welfare issues, please inform the Divisional Veterinary Manager at your local Animal Health Divisional Office.

6. What you need to know about tattooing

This is the method often favoured for goats (some of which have the habit of chewing ear tags!). The tattoo should be easily read on animals with little skin pigmentation. For reading marks in black ears, it is often helpful to apply an electric torch directly to the back of the animal’s ear and read the mark with the aid of the light shining through the ear. Remember that the tattoo cannot be read until some days after applying the ink. You should tattoo well in advance of the need for reading the mark (eg at a sale).

  • Tattooing requires more patience than tagging. It also has more potential (than most current designs of ear tag) for transmission of disease between animals.
  • Make sure that your operator is properly trained and competent.
  • After loading the tattoo pliers with the relevant characters, be sure to check the tattoo on clean, thick paper or cardboard before applying to your animal. Replace characters that are broken or worn immediately.
  • Hold the animal’s head to prevent jerking during tattooing.
  • Cleanse the area to be tattooed with surgical or methylated spirit to remove dirt, grease and wax. Allow the area to dry. Rub in ink with a clean ball of cotton wool. The use of tattoo ink, preferably green rather than black, is critical in getting a legible and permanent tattoo.
  • Place the ear between the jaws of the tattoo pliers. Make sure that the characters are parallel to and between veins and cartilage. Make the imprint quickly and firmly. Use sufficient pressure that the skin is pierced but does not bleed profusely. Immediately apply more ink and rub vigorously and continuously for at least 15 seconds to ensure penetration.
  • Do not disturb the area until the healing process is complete, which may be from five to twenty-one days.

7. Preventing the transmission of disease

It is imperative to clean the tattooing equipment thoroughly between each use as it is likely to become contaminated with blood and can lead to the transmission of disease. When making the decision to tattoo instead of applying ear tags, you should be aware that the risk of disease transmission cannot be completely removed, even by apparently thorough cleansing and disinfection of equipment.

Before commencing a new session of ear tattooing, and before tattooing each animal, you are recommended to follow the guidance below. However, you must appreciate that this action does not eliminate the risk of disease transmission:

  1. remove any debris, ie skin, hair, blood and ink paste, from the pliers and characters;
  2. wash the applicator and characters in clean, preferably running, cold water
  3. the tattoo applicator and characters should then be soaked in disinfectant in the correct dilution for at least one minute;
  4. wash the applicator and characters in clean, preferably running, cold water and carefully dry with a clean cloth;
  5. discard characters that are broken or worn;
  6. the sponge rubber pad should be replaced when it begins to lose its
    elasticity.

8. Problems with tattoos

The animals should be checked initially for signs of excessive bleeding and for the next few days for signs of local infection. Where problems are evident, a veterinarian should be consulted.

9. Further information

If you need any further information about ear tagging or tattooing of sheep and goats, please contact your local Animal Health Divisional Office.

 

(1) Welfare implications of sheep ear tags: D S Edwards and A M Johnston, The Veterinary Record, May 29,1999. Further research commissioned in 1999 by the RSPCA from A M Johnston, Royal Veterinary College, University of London.

Annex I

A comparison of common types of ear tags - Research commissioned by the RSPCA

The RSPCA commissioned studies in 1998 and 1999 on the effects of different types of ear tag on the welfare of sheep. The research was carried out on behalf of the RSPCA by Mr D S Edwards and Professor A M Johnston of the Royal Veterinary College, University of London.

The results of the first study which examined a total of 1040 sheep ears with tags (in three abattoirs and on one farm) for signs of damage related to the ear tag, was published in the Veterinary Record on 29 May 1999. The research shows that the performance of different styles of tags can vary.

The second study investigated the effect of inserting certain metal and polyurethane tags into the ears of 62 ewes and 300 lambs. As the research was carried out in 1999, it does not relate to tag designs marketed after that time. The research was discussed in Farmers Weekly, 9 June 2000, vol. 132.23.

This study concludes that all ear tags result in an inflammatory response due to the wound created at insertion. However certain types of tags created less of a response than others.

The following table reflects the results of the study:

Table showing the results of recent research on suitability of ear tag type depending on ease of application, age of sheep and ability to read from a distance.

Tag type Diagram Ease of
application		 New born
lamb		 Young
stock		 Adult
Ewe/Ram		 Distance
readable
2-piece
flexible
tags		 fw7 Good Poor
Too bulky		 Good Good Good
2-piece
rigid tags		 fw6 Good Good Poor
Too tight
fitting		 Poor
Too tight
fitting		 Poor
metal loop
tag		 fw5 Good (2)
Poor
Major
lesions		 (3)
Poor
Major
lesions		 (4)
Poor
Major
lesions		 Very
poor
plastic loop tag fw1 Very good

Poor
Risk of poor
fitting

 Adequate Adequate Poor
Golf-tee fw2 Poor Adequate Adequate Adequate Adequate
1-piece
flap		 fw4 Very poor Adequate Good Good Good

(2) Fitted with aluminium tags
(3) Fitted with aluminium tags
(4) Fitted with stainless steel tags

* Please note: The diagrams in the table are illustrative of some of the styles
currently available, but are not intended to represent any particular brand, nor do they imply that such tags will be suitable for use in all circumstances.

Page last modified: 23 January, 2008
Page published: 12 February, 2007

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs