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Marking![]() In most cases, it is important to identify individual animals in a study. Ideally, the method should ensure a permanent, indisputable identification of an individual and should not place a burden on the animal. Some methods of identification are listed below (however, this is not an exhaustive list):
Animal Welfare IssuesSeveral of the techniques described above are associated with pain to the animal (e.g., ear tagging, ear notching, wing banding, microchip insertion and tattooing). This can be alleviated with the use of an analgesic. Small animals (e.g., mice) may be anesthetized with a volatile anesthetic which allows for quick recovery from the procedure. In larger animals, a local anesthetic may be sufficient. With birds, care must be taken when banding wings to ensure that no muscle tissue is pierced and that the band is not between the radius and ulna of the wing. The bands must be checked during growth of the bird, with replacement of poorly placed bands. Other banding systems, such as plastic leg bands or nylon bands placed in the wing web or the skin at the back of the neck, may provide adequate identification with fewer welfare concerns. Some techniques for marking and tagging are no longer considered appropriate, as there are now less painful and/or less invasive alternative methods available. For example, toe clipping to identify newborn rodents in a litter or for some wild animals (e.g., salamanders), branding of cattle and horses, and the removal of combs of roosters. |
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