Why do cows and sheep have their ears pierced?

Question

Are the ID tags they have put in their ears just for the benefit of the farmer, or is it a national government thing?

Answer 1

Both. They are an important id for the farmer. In some cases they are required. For example, many states have mandatory ear tags for sheep sold at any livestock auction or slaughterhouse.  This helps with the tracking of disease if animals are found to be infected with scrapies.  This is also part of the goal for NAIS - the government goal to track all animals raised on small farms. This misguided effort is leading to increasing id requirements, mostly (although not entirely) with small farmers.

An example of scrapies requirements http://www.agi.state.al.us/infectious_di...

More information about the NAIS program and the problems it's causing http://www.nonais.org/

Answer 2

The cows are trying to attract the attention of the bulls.

Answer 3

id tag, and some are like flea collars

Answer 4

The identification is for the use of the herdsman only.

Answer 5

Usually ID tags, sometimes government thing

Answer 6

Farm animals have always had some kind of identifying tag or mark on them.  Tags, branding or actual "ear marks" (where the political term came from).  Many years ago farmers in an area would cut distinctive notches in their cows' ears so they could identify them if they got loose or stolen.

Answer 7

i believe that most cows are quite vane. its always about how good they look. they're actually quite shallow.

Sheep just follow along, just like sheep.

Answer 8

They are for the identification purposes of the farmer. They are used for logging and such so the farmers can keep track of health, production, behavior, etc.

Answer 9

both.

Answer 10

If this is in Europe it is a legal requirement.  All cattle have to be double tagged with an individual number.  The primary tag is a big yellow plastic tag with the country indication and animals individual number which comprises of the herd number and then the cows number.  The secondary tag is a smaller tag which has the same number on it.  The cow also has a passport with this number on it and all it's movements are recorded in this and on a national database.  

Sheep are similar but do not have passports.  Again they have an individual number with the Flock number also recorded.  Again this is a Europe wide, legal requirement.  Tagging/passports are there to provide traceability for the food chain.  Most farmers do not like tagging as the animal tends to rip them out alot giving mutilated ears and they don't tend to appreciate having them put in either!.

Answer 11

to mark thier animals