The Importance of Animal Identification: From Ear Tags to Digital Records

Animal identification is the foundation of any effective livestock management system. Without reliable identification, it is impossible to track health records, prove ownership, control disease spread, or ensure food safety traceability.

Traditional Methods

Ugandan pastoralists have identified their cattle for centuries using branding (hot iron marks), ear notching, horn shaping, and naming. While these methods have cultural significance, they have serious limitations for modern livestock management.

The Modern Approach: Dual Identification

Visual ID (V-ID): A physical ear tag bearing a unique number that is visible to the naked eye. Tags are colour-coded by species and designed to withstand field conditions.

Electronic ID (E-ID): A digital number stored in the U-LITS database that links to the animal’s complete digital profile including breed, sex, age, photos, health history, ownership, and movement history.

The Livestock Holding Code (LHC)

Every farm in U-LITS is assigned a unique LHC following the format UG-{District}-{SubCounty}-{ID}. The LHC identifies the location where animals are held, enabling rapid geographic tracing during disease outbreaks.

Benefits of Digital Identification

• Disease Tracing: All animals from an affected farm can be identified instantly and their movements traced
• Ownership Verification: Digital records provide legal proof of ownership, reducing theft and disputes
• Health Record Accuracy: Records are linked to individual animals, not just herds
• Market Value: Animals with verified ID and health records command higher prices
• Food Safety: Complete traceability from farm to fork
• Insurance and Credit: Financial institutions require verifiable livestock records

How to Register Your Animals

Registration is done through U-LITS mobile app or web portal and captures species, breed, sex, date of birth, colour/markings, weight, V-ID tag number, and at least one photograph. Batch registration features allow efficient data entry for multiple animals simultaneously.