I need to buy a tattoo-er for our goats. Our 4-H leader always did it for us and it's time for us to get our own. We'll be tattooing mostly Boer goats. I know some of you will suggest tags instead but... So, I was wondering which ones you own and which ones you like or dislike and why. Boer goats have floppy ears, like of thick similiar to Nubians, perhaps thicker. I have Caprine Supply and it talks about an optional "ear release". Does this make it easier? Also there are different sizes. I need one soon!

-- Bob Ambrozaitis (rambrozaitis@snet.net), July 19, 2000

Answers

The ear release is a bar mounted on two springs that is compressed when the ear is tattooed. When you release the pressure, the ear, now impaled on the pins of the letters/numbers is pushed off and the animal is released as well. It makes it much easier. With goats, use the smaller size digits. I have Nubians so ear thickness is less. I had to tattoo a lamb once to move her to a different state and managed to tear off about half her ear because the tissue was so thin compared to a goat's. She looks funny with half an ear but it goes with her personality.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), July 19, 2000.

I have Nubains, had LaMancha's and Boers. I use the large animal tatto kit, I don't have the one with the ear release, and I press my tatoo's nearly through the ear, yes you have to pry off the ear manually but I think it does a better job. I use the green paste only and brush it in after I tatoo with old toothbrushes. I then dust the ear with cornstarch, so the green doesn't get all over everyone at the barn. I do not use tatoo's as a form of identification on my kids, I fill out my ADGA paperwork and use the discription and collars with names. I only tatoo when sending in paperwork, I will tatoo a kid if a new owner demands it. I don't show kids, so most of my kids are 7 or 8 months old before they are tatooed. I will throw a tatoo in the flank of a LaMancha if they are very closly colored to someone else. The tatoo equipment is cheaper in the Jeffers Livestock catalog, though I do enjoy caprine supply. 1800-Jeffers Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), July 20, 2000.

Bob I vote with Vicki(again) I have the large animal tattoer and it has the ear release which I like eap if you are tattooing an older animal. Jeffers is cheaper and get the numbers and entire alphabet it beats buying new letters every couple of years. I don't like ear tags on goats too easy to rip them out. karen

-- Karen Mauk (dairygoatmama@hotmail.com), July 21, 2000.

Can any of you tell me if these tatoo devices can be used on horses ears? I am looking for a way to ID my horses without disfiguring them. Last year somebody stole 3 nice horses from a stable not far from me. They were gelding valued about $4500/each. None were ever recovered! Unfortunatly, registering a brand can be costly and doing either freeze or hot brands can hurt you in the show ring (altho it isn't supposed to). Race horses get lip tatoos, but they are so hard to read after a few years. How do ear tatoos hold up?

-- elle (hotging@aol.com), July 24, 2000.

Elle, I have a 10 year old Nubian doe, that has easily read tattoo's. Just get the ear free of hair, dirt and grime. Press the tattoo tongs with all your might, and then really scrub the green paste tattoo into the ears. Some dark colored goats have to have a flashlight placed behind the ear to see the dots shine through, but lighter colored animals are easily see. Don't use the roll on ink and don't bother using black or white. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), July 24, 2000.

I called the ADGA a couple of weeks back and they told me to get a stamp kit from Walmart, make my own stamp and using permanent ink, press it onto the goats ear....it doesn't sound like it would last long.

-- Cindy in Ok (cynthiacluck@yahoo.com), April 17, 2001.