What is the primary purpose of ear tagging in livestock?

The primary purpose of ear tagging in livestock is identification. Ear tags serve as a visual means to distinguish one animal from another easily. This is crucial in managing a herd or flock, allowing farmers and livestock handlers to track individual animals based on their unique tag numbers or colors. Proper identification assists in various operational tasks, such as monitoring health, managing breeding, and keeping accurate records.

While ear tagging can indirectly support health monitoring, breeding records, and weight tracking, its foremost role is to facilitate the clear identification of each animal within a herd. This identification is critical for ensuring effective management, as it enables record-keeping and monitoring that rely on recognizing specific individual animals over time.