Which Ink To Use?

I'm sure you don't have many posts like this one!! I raise livestock, specifically Registered Miniature Jersey cattle and Registered Nubian dairy goats. We tattoo inside the ears to provide permanent indentification (herd id in one ear, individual id in the other). Most folks use a clamp, but I use a small battery operated, single needle tattoo gun (the BatTat). I find that it creates tattoos that are much more legible over time. I usually use black, green, or purple ink with good results, BUT this go round, I have 2 goat kids that have the blackest ears I've ever seen. There is no way that black, green, or purple ink will show for more than a few days. I had thought about using white ink, but after reading some of the other posts about white ink fading, I'm thinking maybe yellow would work? What color would you recommend for good visiblity on very black skin, that will last (very long ears, little to no sun exposure). Thanks for any suggestions Ann B

brand em.

I suggest you still use white pigment...on black hide even with fading you should be able to read it if its simple and large.

You can't brand goats, not only are they too sensitive to pain, but their Registrations would be revoked for disfigurement. Besides even with cattle and horses, the registered brand is only a herd id, it does not give individual id. Thanks to the other poster for the suggestion of still using white. That's what I'll do. Ann B

get rid of the goats and get livestock that ain't so frikin sensitive.

First it is called a tattoo MACHINE. No real tattooist would call it a gun. Second a tattooist would not call it INK it is called PIGMENT. The best brand I know of is Eternal Ink. (Company Name) Their pigment is all organic. You can eat it!!!!!! Also a tattooist would know that white pigment does not work on dark skin.. For example an African American person of a dark colour would not be able to get white in their tattoo. (it would not show!) So I dont think white pigment would work on your live stock!

I wouldn't suggest using white pigment on a HUMAN there Sparky,we are talking about that really BLACK skin that goats and some animals have...although the white pigment itself will not standout well the very act of the tattoo with white pigment will create an indelible readable mark Not to mention the poster never said they were a tattoo artist Einstein! The person raises GOATS! SO maybe that poster doesn't know the Professional names for a machine and pigment? Ever seen black skin on an african american?...NO! at best a very dark brown. Goats can have true BLACK skin.

For the person asking about white tattoo ink for their goats. There is a livestock supplier that does have the WHITE paste or ink for tattooing livestock. I think it is Caprine Supply or something like that. I am looking for it myself, as someone else told me it really stands out on the really dark black ears and you can read the tattoo. I like the last post. You are corrent, livestock producers are not tattoo artists, and don't know all the technical terms for ink, pigment, gun or machine..... so, it takes a person like the last dude to be smarter then the average tattooer, to know, we are looking for tattoo ink, usually comes in a paste form instead of a liquid. And yes, WHITE does show up on the black pigment skin of a goat. Trying to find the supplier is the problem. Thanks for the laugh though, it is a pretty comical response.

Found the WHITE paste tattoo ink at www.valleyvet.com. Hope that helps. It is made by Stone Mfg. It should work great on your goats black ears. I am getting some too, since I heard it makes the tattoo really jump out after you have pressed the ears for the ink.