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Select the best type of tag for your cattle. Clean the applicator to decrease the risk of infection. Load the two halves of the tag into the applicator. Check the alignment of the applicator jaw.

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Basic plastic tags are the most common and least expensive means of identification used by small-lot farmers. These feature a broad, flat display panel bearing an easy-to-read ID number. There are also more sophisticated electronic identification systems (EIDs), which make it possible for ranchers to track their livestock remotely via special radio frequencies.  The decision of which type of tag to use may come down to the size of your herd, the acreage you've allotted for grazing, or the amount of money you're willing to spend on simplifying the identification process. If you're tagging an animal for the first time, don't forget to note its age or purchase date on paper in case something happens to the tag. For the wellbeing of your livestock, it’s important that all materials that come into contact with the cow’s ear be properly sterilized beforehand. Wipe down the pin (male) and clip (female) components with rubbing alcohol or a disinfecting solution like chlorhexidine or betadine. This will help eliminate any bacteria present.  You can also swab the inner and outer surfaces of the cow’s ear using a cloth or cotton ball soaked in alcohol for added protection. Take care not to let any of the solution drip into the ear canal itself. Be sure to clean the applicator thoroughly before and after use. In addition to protecting your cows from infection, cleaning and disinfecting the applicator after each tagging session will keep it working longer. Insert the pointed stud on the backside of the visual panel onto the long, slender pin. Then, fit the button or backing into the clip on the opposite arm of the applicator. Double-check that both pieces are fully inserted and attached securely before moving on.  New applicator tools are often labelled with diagram stickers indicating where each piece goes and how to load it correctly. Make sure that the panel of the tag is facing away from the male stud piece so that it will be visible from the outside of the cow’s ear. Before you get to tagging, give your applicator a practice run. Squeeze the handles of the device together slowly so that the jaw closes to the point just before the two tag pieces meet. The stud should be perfectly centered with the hole in the backing piece.  If the hole and stud are out of alignment, it may be necessary to remove and reload them. Be careful not to close the jaw completely, or you’ll have wasted a tag.