L,L & N Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing

Animal identification using a means of marking is a process done to identify and track specific animals. It is done for a variety  of reasons including verification of ownership, biosecurity control, and tracking for research or agricultural purposes.

       The animal care industry recognises animals in the following two headings:

• Identifiable characteristics
• Behavioural characteristics

       Identifiable characteristics include:

• Species & breed;
• sex, including whether or not the animal has been desexed;
• colour and markings;
• coat length;
• age and birth date; and
• fixed identification e.g. microchips, tattoos; ear tags, leg rings or other distinguishing features.

Behavioural characteristics

Behaviour is any response to a stimulus. It can be any externally observable activity of an animal, or an internal change. In general, it includes:

• Movement of parts of the body
• Ceasing expected movement
• Secretions from the body
• Changes in body colour

It is assumed that all animal behaviour is an adaptation designed to support survival, either directly or indirectly. However, this is not always the case.  Animals can behave self-destructively, out of habit, or out of boredom.  To better understand the behaviour, we should also consider what motivates it.

Genetics are of prime importance (e.g. inherited characteristics).  Genetic characteristics are also sometimes referred to as “inborn”, “innate” or “instinctive”. Most animals are genetically programmed to act in certain ways in certain situations.

Experience (e.g. learned characteristics) may encompass terms including: “acquired”, “experiential” or “environmental”.  Behaviours can be learned through the experience of interacting with the environment (which includes the people or other creatures in it), or it can be learned through personal, subjective experience (perceptions, thoughts and feelings).  In the case of animals, these latter factors are usually difficult to identify.

Since genetic and environmental factors both influence behaviour, it is impossible to distinguish particular causes for behaviour. Particularly in regard to animals, no behaviour can ever be characterised as totally instinctive or totally learned. Even though learned and genetic factors both play a role in all behaviours, the relative significance of each is variable.

Some behaviours in animals can be relatively unlearned and therefore, almost impossible to modify. In such cases, we can determine that genetics is the major influence. Other behaviours are relatively easy to modify, thus mostly learned. In such cases, we can determine that genetics has a minor influence.