An apparatus and method for identifying a carcass (60) during meat production. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a band (10) sized to fit around a limb (62) of the carcass and a readable identification tag (12) affixed to the band for remote identification of the carcass. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a block (120) adapted to couple to a trolley carrying the carcass and a readable identification tag coupled to or embedded in the block. The readable identification tag may be used to read and write information relating to the carcass to a database (75).