Abstract: A combination visual and electronic animal identification tag is provided. The tag includes at least two separate but matching identification means or identifiers which ensures that integrity of the identification is maintained. The electronic identifier is preferably in the form of an electronic transponder which emits a unique identifying signal corresponding to the particular animal. The visual identification means or identifiers may include a bar code, a visual management number, a feed lot number, an electronic identification number and others. Each of these additional forms of identification also match the electronic identifier. The multiple and redundant identifiers provides greater identification system reliability, and further provides users additional options in creating, storing, and manipulating information for a particular tagged animal.

Abstract: An animal eartag houses a passive electronic transponder for use in the identification of the animal by a low frequency radio wave reading system. The eartag is formed of a generally flat and flexible plastic body or carrier member that includes an ear attaching arrangement at the upper portion thereof, and a hollow half cylinder shaped bubble or elongated first cavity at the lower portion thereof. This first cavity is closed at one end and is open at the other end. A rigid plastic insert member comprises a mating half cylinder shape that is dimensioned to closely fit into the open end of the first cavity. The insert member includes an elongated bore, or second cavity, that extends generally coaxially of the insert member's half cylinder shape. This second cavity extends less than the entire axial length of the insert member, so as to form a second cavity having an open end.

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 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.