EID reader for sheep.

[Kingcustard]

Looking to buy a sheep tag reader for sheep.
Not doing anything fancy. Just to basically read and record tags of sheep in each field and to get a record saved of ewes sold off the farm.

A system that is self contained with a big screen and ease of set up in relation to mobs and fields would be handy.

Also ability to send stuff straight to the printer without having to go through a computer is also a must.

Comment away please.

If you know the price that would be great too.

 

[iLivestock]

Looking to buy a sheep tag reader for sheep.
Not doing anything fancy. Just to basically read and record tags of sheep in each field and to get a record saved of ewes sold off the farm.

A system that is self contained with a big screen and ease of set up in relation to mobs and fields would be handy.

Also ability to send stuff straight to the printer without having to go through a computer is also a must.

Comment away please.

If you know the price that would be great too.

Afternoon,

If you are happy to use an App to capture extra information about records, then print to a wireless printer then our iLivestock would be worth a look. However if you just want start with a reader and no "farm software" then I would start your search looking at the below:

1- Agrident Range of readers - APR 250/600 & AWR 250/300 ( These are stick readers)

2- Tru- Test SRS 2 or XRS 2

3- Allflex RS420

4 - Shearwell

All will come with some type of software but the main question will be does it do enough with the information captured on the reader.

Hopefully this helps.

Any questions let us know

Thanks

Ewen

 

[Kingcustard]

How much are the Apr250 and 600. How do they deal with duplicate read tags. Do they discard them or do I have to do it manually

 

[MOG]

I have an agrident APR500 (older APR600?) and if you get a duplicate in task mode it tells you and won't let you do anything more until you tell it to cancel the reading or to accept the reading. If you are in speed mode (say you have 20 lambs in a pen and want all their numbers) then you just wave it over their heads until it says it has 20 numbers. It doesn't matter how many times it picks up a tag in that mode, it only records it once.

 

[Kingcustard]

Basically I will be making a batch record for every field and scanning them in after lambing each year so I know what's where, and also scanning ewes sold to keep a record of what goes off the farm and that's basically it. If it is easy to print from it straight to a printer to send the tag numbers with the ewes to market that is also good.

 

[OBScotland]

Good stick reader with Blue tooth and link to software. Have a look at www.agriwebb.com/uk they are adding bits every day......which is what were in process of setting up.

 

[Kingcustard]

I've had Agriwebb for almost a year now and love it, totally revolutionised how we manage the cows and sheep and simple to keep numbers right throughout the year. We have the cattle all loaded on but not the sheep, hence why I need a new stick reader.

 

[TGM]

back to an earlier post - how much are the APR250 and APR699 - APR250 is £375, APR600 is £495. The big differences are, the APR600 has a full numeric keypad, useful if you want to record lamb weights and you're not using a Bluetooth Scale, APR600 has an internal database to look up sheep records, APR600 has a connection point on the top to enable an extension wand to be attached and APR600 has WIFI as well as Bluetooth, although most situations will be likely to use BT not WIFI connection mode - thinking of connecting to devices like weigh scales. Working with the like of Agriwebb, the Agrident readers have 3 modes of connection - Serial Port Protocol (SPP), HID (connects as if a keyboard) and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). In HID mode they will connect to anything, even if the application has not been designed with Bluetooth connection in mind.- HID mode takes over the keyboard of the device, sends in the EID and appends a CR character at the end. Finally, there a 2nd variant of HID in these readers - HID Smart - once you take over the keyboard function of a device then the device native keyboard does not pop up when you would expect it, so HID smart connects as a keyboard sends the eid + CR character and immediately disconnects, allowing the device native keyboard control again. - Very Smart! Even the cheap and chearfull APR250 has all these BT modes!

 

[Al R]

I've had Agriwebb for almost a year now and love it, totally revolutionised how we manage the cows and sheep and simple to keep numbers right throughout the year. We have the cattle all loaded on but not the sheep, hence why I need a new stick reader.

Do you do full EID with the sheep? I don’t so my sheep aren’t on it individually. When I first had it I ran all the different breeds of ewes separate and then at lambing time all the breeds got mixed up so I’ve moved all ewes to it EWES and then I know what the bunches of breeds are or put it in notes

 

[Nithsdale]

back to an earlier post - how much are the APR250 and APR699 - APR250 is £375, APR600 is £495. The big differences are, the APR600 has a full numeric keypad, useful if you want to record lamb weights and you're not using a Bluetooth Scale, APR600 has an internal database to look up sheep records, APR600 has a connection point on the top to enable an extension wand to be attached and APR600 has WIFI as well as Bluetooth, although most situations will be likely to use BT not WIFI connection mode - thinking of connecting to devices like weigh scales. Working with the like of Agriwebb, the Agrident readers have 3 modes of connection - Serial Port Protocol (SPP), HID (connects as if a keyboard) and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). In HID mode they will connect to anything, even if the application has not been designed with Bluetooth connection in mind.- HID mode takes over the keyboard of the device, sends in the EID and appends a CR character at the end. Finally, there a 2nd variant of HID in these readers - HID Smart - once you take over the keyboard function of a device then the device native keyboard does not pop up when you would expect it, so HID smart connects as a keyboard sends the eid + CR character and immediately disconnects, allowing the device native keyboard control again. - Very Smart! Even the cheap and chearfull APR250 has all these BT modes!

The APR600 has WIFI? (hadn't noticed that in the specs?) Does that mean I can connect it direct to my house printer to print off tag lists etc? (Printer has WIFI but not Bluetooth)

 

[Cmoran]

Sorry for jumping in here but I’m also looking for a reader and printer nothing to fancy just fed up reading tags of lambs when selling them be easier print it out and staple to despatch docket. Thanks

 

[FarmyStu]

Sorry for jumping in here but I’m also looking for a reader and printer nothing to fancy just fed up reading tags of lambs when selling them be easier print it out and staple to despatch docket. Thanks

Don't forget that if you're using single "slaughter" tags on your lambs then you don't need individual tag numbers for movements anyway. Just the flock number. If they're double tagged, then yes, you need to read every one.

 

[Cmoran]

Don't forget that if you're using single "slaughter" tags on your lambs then you don't need individual tag numbers for movements anyway. Just the flock number. If they're double tagged, then yes, you need to read every one.

Here in Ireland only a few of the main factories work that way the rest want full tag numbers on dispatch. I’m looking for it mostly for store lambs I buy a fair few of them for resale and it would definitely be handier than writing them all down

 

[FarmyStu]

Here in Ireland only a few of the main factories work that way the rest want full tag numbers on dispatch. I’m looking for it mostly for store lambs I buy a fair few of them for resale and it would definitely be handier than writing them all down

Ah sorry. Never spotted you were in Ireland. Over here lots of folk like to know slaughter tag numbers so they can check kill sheets against their own judgments if you see what I mean.

 

[Cmoran]

Ah sorry. Never spotted you were in Ireland. Over here lots of folk like to know slaughter tag numbers so they can check kill sheets against their own judgments if you see what I mean.

Yes I’m the same but usually disappointed

 

[Bury the Trash]

Sorry for jumping in here but I’m also looking for a reader and printer nothing to fancy just fed up reading tags of lambs when selling them be easier print it out and staple to despatch docket. Thanks

Any reader will bluetooth the tag numbers to a P. computer via software that comes with it (like the shearwell stick does ) back at the 'office' then printed off from the usual office type printer , thats what ido saves buying those relatively expensive little thermal printers.

 

[Cmoran]

Any reader will bluetooth the tag numbers to a P. computer back at the 'office' then printed off from the usual office type printer , thats what ido saves buying those relatively expensive little thermal printers.

I want the small printer aswell as it be a pain in the ass going into the office from my yard every time I want numbers

 

[Bury the Trash]

I want the small printer aswell as it be a pain in the ass going into the office from my yard every time I want numbers

trouble is buying from these special eid companies is like buying from Harrods,
theyre 30 quid on ebay

 

[Nithsdale]

trouble is buying from these special eid companies is like buying from Harrods,
theyre 30 quid on ebay

Are they just the same?.. one of them could be handy

 

[Bury the Trash]

Are they just the same?.. one of them could be handy

no idea , point is most of this eid stuff is way to overpriced compared to the general market of similar, really its only because its 'adjusted' 'to talk together' or have the 'right connection'. iyswim.