An ear tag for marking animals includes a female portion consisting of a female
head optionally borne by or formed in a first panel, a male portion consisting
of a male punch optionally borne by or formed in a second panel, identifying means
being borne by at least one of the male or female portions. The male punch is configured
in two separable elements, one of which is housed in the female head and the other
forms an organic matter sampling device during the passage of the male punch through
the ear of an animal, which is moveable in an axial channel thereof and is withdrawn
through the panel of the male portion after fastening the tag onto the animal's ear.