Eartag

/ˈɪrtæɡ/ noun

Definition

A small label or identification marker attached to an animal's ear, used by farmers and ranchers to track livestock ownership and health records.

Etymology

From 'ear' plus 'tag' (origin unclear, possibly imitative or from Old Norse). Modern eartags became standardized in the 20th century for livestock management and disease tracking.

Kelly Says

Eartags revolutionized agriculture—before them, ranchers had to brand cattle with hot irons (painful and imprecise); eartags meant unique ID numbers, and now they contain electronic chips that track an animal's entire medical history and movement.

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