Here's a breakdown:
* Early Forms: Ear tags, the simplest form, have been used for centuries by farmers and ranchers to identify their animals. These were often made from materials like leather or metal.
* Metal Tags: The development of metal tags, especially with numbers or letters for identification, is difficult to pinpoint to a single inventor. It likely evolved gradually with advancements in metalworking and manufacturing.
* Modern Tags: Modern, standardized animal identification tags, like the ones used for livestock, pets, and research animals, have been developed and refined by numerous individuals and companies over the past century.
* Microchips: The invention of microchips for animal identification is attributed to Desmond H. G. Morris, a British veterinarian, who developed the concept in the 1970s.
Therefore, it's more accurate to say that the concept of animal identification tags has been refined and improved upon by many individuals and companies throughout history.