Abstract: An animal-identification component including a flexible and deformable panel for carrying animal-identification information, with the panel being sufficiently flexible and deformable to flex and bend to minimize snagging of the panel on objects which contact the panel, and a panel retainer for securing the panel to a stud, with the panel retainer having a flange with an opening therein, and the panel retainer made of material sufficiently rigid to resist flexing and deforming, with the flange having a face for engaging a sufficiently large portion of the flexible and deformable panel to prevent the panel retainer from being drawn through an opening in the flexible and deformable panel, and the panel having a frangible neck extension for frictionally engaging the sidewalls of an opening in the panel to maintain the panel and the panel retainer as a unit prior to attachment of the panel to an animal.

Abstract: An animal tag for attachment to the flesh of an animal with the tag characterized by having a portion of the tag containing a film coating containing an antiseptic for release into a wound made in attachment of the tag to the flesh of the animal to thereby inhibit bacterial infection in the wound.

Abstract: A method and phase changing composition with an in situ insecticide for the killing of insects on animals over an extended period of time. The phase changing composition with an in situ insecticide comprises a film-former such as hydroxypropyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and methyl cellulose, an insecticide and a rapidly evaporating solvent such as volatile alcohol. When the phase changing insecticide composition is applied to an animal, it leaves a liquid bead on the animal which penetrates and encapsulates a portion of the animal's body hairs. As the liquid solvent in the liquid bead evaporates, it forms a dry-to-the-touch gel bead that contains the in situ insecticide which is released from the gel bead over an extended period of time.

Abstract: An animal identification tag having a stud for piercing the ear of an animal with the stud including a shaft of hard resilient material for extending through the ear of an animal and an ear-piercing tip of hard resilient material attached to one end of the shaft with the ear-piercing tip having sufficient hardness to permit an operator to force the ear-piercing tip through the ear of an animal and a retaining flange of hard resilient material extending out from the shaft to prevent withdrawal of the stud from an animal's ear with a retaining flange of flexible material attached to the retaining flange or hard resilient material so the flanges coact to thereby reduce snagging of the animal ear tag.

Abstract: An improved animal ear tag applicator in which the jaws include a pivotal holding member and a tapered pin with the handles having a spacing that lessens hand fatigue when applying tags to the ears of animals.

Abstract: A method and composition for the prevention of mastitis in animals. The composition comprises a water soluble film former such as hydroxypropyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and methyl cellulose, and chlorhexidine (preferably as the gluconate), carried in a freeze-resistant, rapidly evaporating solvent comprising a volatile alcohol. When animal teats are dipped into the composition, a liquid film containing chlorhexidine remains on the teats, and the liquid vehicle quickly evaporates to form a protective film that coats the teats to prevent bacterial infection.

Abstract: A two-piece ear tag for identifying animals with the first piece having a first part with a flat portion containing an identifying indicia wherein with the first part connected to a second part also containing an identifying indicia by a severable section, and the second piece having an anchoring pin with a sharp tip for piercing the animal's ear and extending into locking engagement in an opening in the first piece of the tag.