Keeping records enables you to make more informed management decisions. There are several methods that can be used to identify individual animals. The most common form of identification is the ear tag. You also have to get the proper tagger to match the brand of ear tag. The ear tag is inserted into the tagger then inserted into the ear according to the instructions.
Ear tags are easy to read but they tend to fade after several years or get lost.
If there is not a permanent form of identification and the tag is lost the animal can no longer be positively identified. A good method for permanent identification is tattooing the animals' ear. Most breed associations require a tattoo to register an animal. The first step in the process is selecting the number to be used to permanently identify the animal to be tattooed. Once the number is selected, you should take a piece of paper and clamp the tattoo gun on the paper to check to make sure your number is set right.