Only in situations where there is not enough ear to tattoo can a freeze brand or a hot brand be used as an identification mark. The brand should be a three-unit mark. On the certificate of registration, an asterisk will be placed in the tattoo column next to the brand units. If there is no way a breeder can get a tattoo in the ear, they can freeze or hot-iron brand no more than three units as an alternative. If a tattoo is not legible, re-tattoo the animal in a different lobe of the ear with the same marking.
Association rules emphasize never to try to alter or over-imprint an old tattoo.
You can rest assured, now that you have successfully tattooed your calves by following these suggestions, your next Sunday afternoon outing to check the weaned calves will be uneventful. Establishing a herd ID system Before tattooing, an effective and well-planned herd identification system must be established. This system should benefit the producer and make herd recordkeeping easier. Depending on a breeder's needs, a tattoo can reflect several different things. The tattoo can refer to the year the calf was born, the offspring's parents, or relate a number in a sequence as to when the calf was born.