Patent ID: 7096616

Claim:
A tag for attachment to an animal ear comprising: a penetrating component having two spaced apart ear penetrating members joined by a central section extending therebetween the penetrating members each having a stem portion extending in the same general direction away from a joint portion with the central section and terminating in a penetrating head having a pointed end, each penetrating head formed with a shoulder at a connection between the stem portion and the penetrating head; and a separate complementary component having a pair of locking portions arranged so as to be able to receive the penetrating heads and lock them to the separate complementary component by engagement with the shoulder of each penetrating head; wherein the shape of the penetrating component is such that material forming the penetrating component provides substantially no external overhang extending outwardly beyond the joint portions between the ear penetrating members and the central section in a direction defined by a straight line extending between the joint portions and each stem portion is hollow and communicates with an open end at the joint portion between each ear penetrating member and the central section provide access for a pair of implant pins of a tag applicator.