Various methods are used to identify stock including freeze and fire branding, ear tattoos, tags, woolbrands and earmarks. Different methods are used for different species of stock. These are described in the Brand Certificate. The first letter may be a lazy letter which means when it appears on the animal, the letter is placed on its side.
Every earmark consists of a symbol in two positions.
Earmarks are shown on the certificate as they should appear on the ear and as a code, called the coded earmark index. If the brand or earmark are similar, a request to change the newly allocated one should be lodged. This will avoid confusion in identifying stock, should they stray. A run is any station, farm, freehold or leasehold property or any place where stock are kept and have been kept or depastured. A run may consist of more than one property in close proximity where stock are kept, or properties in different shires.