The branding of livestock is not new and has a long history. It has been used as a method to identify ownership of animals kept in open-grazing environments. In fact, in most of the states, these must be fully registered and form the primary method of determining livestock ownership.
However, marking livestock Holstein Friesian in Malaysia is no longer limited to branding, with modern techniques such as - ceramic capsules administered orally to cattle, visual ear tagging among other things in order to perform a similar role.
It may be true that the techniques may have been changed, but the main purpose of marking the livestock remains a method for identification. The utilization of identification has considerably extended beyond the ownership disputes as systems have developed.
Especially, in Australia, the tagging of the ear including the marking forms the basis of NLIS (National Livestock Identification System). This system has been used for the tracing of sheep, cattle, for biosecurity, product integrity, and market access purposes. Moreover, due to several other systems that have been existing in other countries too and in Australia i.e. NLIS Guernsey Dairy cattle must be marked with an ear tag or a combination of a rumen bolus and visual ear tag.
As for the goats and sheep they are marked with a visual ear tag or an RFID ear tag. Also, the branding of livestock is included within the NLIS in Australia, including the requirement for earmarking varies by state to state. The intention is to ensure that overall safety is justifiable.
It can also be fully understood by taking an example of all Illawarra dairy cattle treated with hormonal growth implant must be permanently identified with a triangular earmark in the middle of the right ear. Also, the marking of livestock allows for a database of animal residency and interaction with other ones to be kept. This helps in disease identification and management and can help prevent widespread outbreaks.
In addition to the differentiation of dairy cows importer Malaysia and other livestock between farms, different markings are important to differentiate livestock within farms. Numbering electronic systems are common for identifying individual animals within a farm. This is required to keep track of their age and also assists in identification during exhibiting shows.
Livestock marking has so much evolved from a simple system for identifying ownership to a complex electronic-based tracking. It is for good and has become a vital part of strategies that are developed to ensure the quality and to prevent any spread of disease.
Also Read: Holstein Dairy Cattle - The Most Popular Breed in Australia
