Silver nitrate solution would work well (reduce it with formalin probably).  Anything would be prone to wearing off over time though, so maybe you would need something that would soak in a bit?  Just a thought...

I could make some jokes about you Aussies and your sheep, but that would just be too easy!! (and they'd probably come straight back at me!) 

*grin*

Cheers,
Aidan
New Zealand

__

aidan schurr  b.m.l.sc
section head, histology
hutt valley district health board
lower hutt
new zealand

aidan.schurr@hvh.co.nz
++64 4 570 9173

>>> "Dalefield, Rosalind" <Rosalind.Dalefield@li.csiro.au> 2/08/2001 >>>

Can anyone suggest something that will permanently stain keratin?

This is actually for keratin in the living animal; I want to mark the (light
colored) hooves of Merino sheep so I can track rate of hoof growth. But I
figured Histonetters would have some good ideas...what stains just won't
come off your fingernails!?

Thanks in advance,


Rosalind Dalefield BVSc PhD DABVT DABT
Senior Research Scientist, Toxicology
Plant Toxins Unit
CSIRO
5 Portarlington Rd
Private Bag 24
Geelong
VIC 3220
Australia

Phone 61 3 5227 5730
Fa