LPM 222: Diversified poultry production and current concepts in poultry management and marketing [Livestock Production Management (Regional Interest)] (1+1)

Equipments and materials for identification

EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS FOR IDENTIFICATION

• There are numerous options available to producers for identifying ratites. The most common method of identifying young birds is by the use of plastic numbered leg bands. These bands can be placed on the birds at hatching and will be useful for several weeks. Larger bands are available for juvenile and adult birds that can be adjusted to the size of the lag as the birds grow.
• Many producers use microchip identification as a method of identifying birds. Birds can be microchipped at hatching by implanting the small chip under the skin (often placed in the pipping muscle of the neck at this time). This method is useful in both identifying birds on the ranch and also for locating and identifying lost or stolen birds.
• Locations for implanting the microchip include the hip muscle, the muscle on the back just above the tail and the area between the wings. Several companies produce both microchips and readers.
• There are also now companies that provide DNA fingerprint identification.
• Ostriches are branded or tattooed on the leg depending on their age. No ostriches under 6 months may be branded with a hot iron, but ostriches younger than 6 months may be tattooed.
• The characters of a brand may not be bigger than 25 mm (wide or high). The characters of a tattoo may not be bigger than 19 mm (wide or high). The brand or tattoo may only have 2 characters and the characters are put at 6 mm from each other.

Fig. 23. 12. Materials used for the identification of ratites