Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-22
HQskin Letter
BIZ E
J. HASKfN
OF ANIMALS

have no intention to ship the wrong
a number on the paddock. This methoo
easily occur.
This could happen in the case of a
number Of breeds of cattle-especiaily
such breeds as the Red Poll, the Jersey
and Aberdeen-Angus, which are SOLID
or marked with comparative uniform
ity. The Holstein- Friesian, with It's
notified coat, and the Hereford, with
peculiar markings of white on face and
shoulders, present fewer difficulties.
When a pure-bred cow is registered,
the individual markings are drawn on
the record sheet on a printed outline
of q COW. But even when an animal
has peculiar marks supplementary
means of Identification do not come
amiss.
Various attempts are made by own
ers to insure Identification. In a herd
of pure-bred cows each is always kept
in a special stall and in q certain pas
ture.
Marked by Chains
Jersey cows are often marked by
a chain fastened around one horn with
a number on the padlick. This method
of Identification is said to be an old
custom in the Island of Jersey, and 1t
has been adopted for this particular
breed in this country, as well. Other
breeds are sometimes marked by a
metal tag fastened in n ear. These
marks of ownership, however, can be
removed.
Lately pigs have been marked by a
novel method of t~attooing. monograph
needles are set on end in metal, SO
that the points form a number. This
stencil is then dipped in a harmless
kind of paint, and the hog is marked
by quickly imprinting the tattoo label
in his thick skin as he runs past the
man with the stencil. This method of
marking hogs has been found valuable
in cases where a herd is exposed to
disease. The exposed hogs, differently
marked, can be given careful exam
nation by the inspectors before they
are allowed to go on the meat mar
ket.
The use Of the nose print, so far as
stock are concerned, would be mainly
to facilitate Identification in buying
and selling. Take the instance of q
dealer who goes abroad TO buy cattle.
The animals he selects are tested and
found free from tuberculosis. If he
the cattle, that is, assuming that the
idea proves practical, he could satisfy
himself that he received the tested
cows.
The main objection to the nose print
system is that it would involve expense
if it were used as a part Of registry
procedure. Registering cattle is al
ready an expense to the farmer. Only
about one-fifth of the pure-bred dairy
cattle in the country are registered.
manly because of the cost, although
having cattle registered is an advantage
when it comes to selling them. A
buyer of unregistered cattle takes q
chance on his judgment and on the
honesty of the owner. He has no of
fetal knowledge of the animals pedi.
gree or record.
If nose prints were added to the
registry system, the books of records
which are filed at the breeders associ.
alton headquarters would have to be
printed differently. A place for tht
nose print to be pasted on would have
TO be arranged and the record keeping
would be somewhat changed. The re.
suit would probably be an increase il
the cost of registering cattle. The cos
of making prints to be kept at home
for his own reference would not be-
very expensive for a cattle owner, how.
ever.
1t is claimed by some students thai
every creature has some point or points
of individuality. Zebras, for instance
are popularity supposed to be marked
with regular, candy cant stripes. A:
a matter of fact, study of zebras hat
shown that each animal has distinctive
markings.
1t has been pointed out by an iden
LITIGATION expert that this principle ex
tends into the plant world, and tina
no two leaves on the same tree ar
veined exactly alike. If this theory i:
correct it may be that the muzzle o
an ants~al contains the clue to its I'm
~mistaksEie identity.