How to Read Cattle Earmarks

A visual guide to understanding the traditional system of cattle identification through ear notching, using California's registered earmarks as examples.

What Are Cattle Earmarks?

Earmarks are permanent identification marks made by cutting specific patterns into a cow's ears. This ancient practice predates hot-iron branding and remains an essential tool for ranchers today. While brands identify ownership from a distance, earmarks serve as a secondary -and sometimes primary -form of identification that's particularly useful when cattle are gathered closely together.

Earmark patterns are registered with the state alongside brands, though unlike brands, earmarks are not required to be unique -multiple ranchers may use the same earmark pattern. The left and right ears can have different marks, and when combined with a unique brand, they help further distinguish livestock.

Why Ranchers Use Earmarks

Backup Identification

When brands become obscured by thick winter coats or scarring, earmarks remain visible and readable year-round.

Close-Range Sorting

During roundups and in corrals, earmarks can be read quickly without needing to see the animal's entire body.

Herd Management

Some ranchers use earmarks to indicate birth year, breeding status, or other management information distinct from ownership.

Historical Tradition

Earmarking has been practiced for thousands of years across many cultures. It connects modern ranchers to generations of livestock tradition.

Reading an Earmark

Earmarks are typically described by specifying the left ear pattern first, followed by the right ear pattern. The position of the cut on the ear (upper edge, lower edge, tip) and the type of cut (notch, split, crop) combine to create the full description.

When reading the examples below, the left ear is shown on the left side of the image and the right ear on the right -as if you're looking at the animal from behind.

California Earmark Examples

California, like most western states, maintains an official registry of earmarks. Here are examples of registered earmark patterns that demonstrate the variety of cuts and combinations used.