583820 Disclosed is an ear tag for marking an animal and for sampling tissue from the animal. The tag comprises a male part (2) and a female part, the male part having a stem (21) and a tip (211) of the stem, the female part having a receiving portion for receiving the tip (211) and at least parts of the stem (21) upon application of the ear tag (1). The ear tag further comprising sample collecting means (22) and, optionally, a sample container, wherein the sample collecting means (22) is detachably associated with the male part (2) prior to application of the ear tag. The sample container, if present, is detachably associated with the female part prior to application of the ear tag. The sample collecting means (22) has a first interior space (221) for receiving a tissue sample (5), and the sample container, if present, has a second interior space for receiving a tissue sample (5). The sample collecting means (22) is configured such that it becomes pressed into or through tissue of an animal upon application of the ear tag to generate a tissue sample (5).
