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. Then clamp the gun on the ear between the top vein and the second vein from the top. Next take an old toothbrush and put some tattoo ink on it and rub the ink into the indentions you have just made. Be very careful when tattooing because tattoos that can't be read are common.