Cattle ear tags

[FarmerDanny1989]

I keep having issues with tags as I seem to be in a constant battle with them always 4/5 a week needing replacing some needing both!!
Iv been using Dalton tags mostly both large plastic but just wondering if anyone else has this problem and what brand they use?
min thinking of going back to the metal and a plastic as never had issues with them in the past!!

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Shearwell with one metal and one plastic. Free replacements.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

I keep having issues with tags as I seem to be in a constant battle with them always 4/5 a week needing replacing some needing both!!
Iv been using Dalton tags mostly both large plastic but just wondering if anyone else has this problem and what brand they use?
min thinking of going back to the metal and a plastic as never had issues with them in the past!!

How many cattle? How are they kept? Any idea how they are losing them?

4 or 5 a week from a herd of 1000 is probably not terrible but from a herd of 50 shows something very wrong.

When ours (occasionally) lose one it's almost always in a feed barrier hence we don't lose tags in summer.

 

[Samcowman]

Which type of Dalton tags are you using the one with the solid plastic male spike. Had these years ago and was forever losing them. With shearwell now and pretty pleased with them.
Did have problems in 2018 when the cattle were working the hedges more in the dry weather though.

 

[mo!]

Make sure you are putting them in right, and get rid of all the places they are pulling them out. Very few losses here, maybe .4% of the ones I put in.

 

[steveR]

I keep having issues with tags as I seem to be in a constant battle with them always 4/5 a week needing replacing some needing both!!
Iv been using Dalton tags mostly both large plastic but just wondering if anyone else has this problem and what brand they use?
min thinking of going back to the metal and a plastic as never had issues with them in the past!!

Moved back to metal and plastic years ago. Trouble is the "new" metal Kertchum tags are crap compared to 25 yrs ago. Too big for starters

 

[AndrewM]

can you work out what they are catching them in? old ring feeders and certian gates are culprits here

 

[upnortheast]

Used metal ketchums as a secondary tag for years & hardly lost any.
Since the company changed hands the tags have become shite, loosing loads, now given up on them

 

[organicguy]

Used metal ketchums as a secondary tag for years & hardly lost any.
Since the company changed hands the tags have become shite, loosing loads, now given up on them

b***ger, just gone back to them!

 

[delilah]

Just had an email saying Dalton have taken over Denimex/Top tags who we have always been happy with, guess it means we will get Dalton tags in future can't see they would carry on with a separate production line ? Unless the Denimex tag is better and Dalton have bought them to acquire the design ?

 

[JCB_JCR]

Went back to the ketchum/shearwell metal tags a couple years ago after losing lots of 'MVF' tags and haven't had any issues with them. Also ripped out some crappy barrier feeders. Think only lost 1 metal tag in about 200 tagged so far - most leave farm at about 20months old. Using an old pair of pliers so they are same size as original ketchum tags.

 

[tr250]

Used metal ketchums as a secondary tag for years & hardly lost any.
Since the company changed hands the tags have become shite, loosing loads, now given up on them

They are owned by shearwell now everyone one here raves about them

 

[tr250]

Just had an email saying Dalton have taken over Denimex/Top tags who we have always been happy with, guess it means we will get Dalton tags in future can't see they would carry on with a separate production line ? Unless the Denimex tag is better and Dalton have bought them to acquire the design ?

I don’t know the tags your talking about but I think there’s less tag manufacturers than you think we have Nordic star tags and I know they are the same as shearwell and several others most of them just buy them in and print them

 

[JP1]

They are owned by shearwell now everyone one here raves about them

Are the metal tags the herd number only or the animal number like the plastic tag?

 

[JCB_JCR]

Are the metal tags the herd number only or the animal number like the plastic tag?

Like a sheep tag herd no. Inside ear animal no. Outside

 

[tr250]

Are the metal tags the herd number only or the animal number like the plastic tag?

Yes both they are a legal secondary tag. We put a large primary in one ear and a metal and a management in the other

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Went off Daltons a couple of years ago. Getting dear enough for poorer and poorer quality products. Now on Nordic Star cattle tags and very pleased so far

 

[fermerboy]

Over the years I reckon I must have tried near all brands and types of tags.
Early Ketchum metal were good and lasted.
Out of the plastic ones I find Caisley are as good as it gets, still lose a few but best of the bunch here.

 

[milkloss]

Anyone seen the Shearwell metal eid? The individual number is now laser etch on metal…… don’t think that’ll be lasting long.

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Anyone seen the Shearwell metal eid? The individual number is now laser etch on metal…… don’t think that’ll be lasting long.

We are using them and so far retention is 100%.
Easy to read with a wand, but they are not wysiwyg so you have to convert the tag code to the actual ear tag number through a software program that is provided.