EID Tags not reading

[Jerry]

Just had a first go with my new and first stick reader. Was weighing store lambs so decided to read all the tags as a test and for some basic data.

In this batch there are approx 150 stores all bought in plus a few ewe lambs Ive retained.

So as you can imagine a selection of makes of tags.

But Im guessing approx 50% of the tags were shearwell as I recognise them as they are all I have ever used. Pretty much all of the shearwell tags read, think there was 1 that did not.

But I have a good % of the other makes that failed to read, dont know the make to be honest.

What sort of failure % should you see? Quite pleased that Shearwell read well as just ordered a new batch ready for lambing.

 

[Bury the Trash]

whos the father of the stickreader ? sounds like a reader prob more than tag ?

I rarely get a miss read that's using shearwell stickreader and all shearwell tags mind​

 

[milkloss]

It’s the future don’t you know? 100% traceability and reliability

 

[JD-Kid]

had some tags here do the same thing. never. read. even the day put in
just by chance were they. a 2 piece tag not reading

 

[jjm]

Bubble gum tags here for the past 6 years..... useless (approx 15% + don’t read). Never again , shearwell from now on.

 

[Jerry]

whos the father of the stickreader ? sounds like a reader prob more than tag ?

I rarely get a miss read that's using shearwell stickreader and all shearwell tags mind​

I dont have a problem so far with the Shearwell tags, got to read all the ewes next week and that will be interesting, a fair % are other makes.

Reader came from Allied Weighing, just a simple basic model.

 

[Al R]

I only use the stick reader when selling culls, 16 yesterday, 5 re tagged. 2 missing the EID tag and 3 had both tags but wouldn’t read (2 were 5 yo and 1 was 4 yo) Shearwell tags, agrident stick reader having tried to read other makes From bought in animals I had 1 tag company I had to Retag 90% of them, other makes 25-30%.

What happens with auto drafters/weighers if a tag doesn’t read or is missing?

 

[shearerlad]

Bubble gum tags here for the past 6 years..... useless (approx 15% + don’t read). Never again , shearwell from now on.

I’m exactly the same.
I switched for the 2017 lambing. Shearwell are streets ahead of bubblegum tags in retention, reads and ears not being deformed.

 

[exmoor dave]

I only use the stick reader when selling culls, 16 yesterday, 5 re tagged. 2 missing the EID tag and 3 had both tags but wouldn’t read (2 were 5 yo and 1 was 4 yo) Shearwell tags, agrident stick reader having tried to read other makes From bought in animals I had 1 tag company I had to Retag 90% of them, other makes 25-30%.

What happens with auto drafters/weighers if a tag doesn’t read or is missing?

Sheep isn't released intil the tag is read

 

[Pistonbroke]

Been reading some of ours this week ahead of a ministry count. Our own are Roxan and have all read with about five missing out of 800. Bought in ewes are shearwell with over twenty missing and five that won't read out of 250. Allflex Stick

 

[Jerry]

So much for a step forward, Ill stick with shearwell on evidence to date and the fact I rarely loose one unless they rip it out of the ear.

 

[JD-Kid]

I only use the stick reader when selling culls, 16 yesterday, 5 re tagged. 2 missing the EID tag and 3 had both tags but wouldn’t read (2 were 5 yo and 1 was 4 yo) Shearwell tags, agrident stick reader having tried to read other makes From bought in animals I had 1 tag company I had to Retag 90% of them, other makes 25-30%.

What happens with auto drafters/weighers if a tag doesn’t read or is missing?

eather stops. or can set it to detent ones it dose not read just got to be careful if you try to retag in crate. as the tags read then the gates open and sheep takes off trap for young players hahaha

 

[Big Al]

We had a sheep count with animal health inspectors in November. They ran 50 sheep through the race to check the electronic tags and the governments own Shearwell stick reader wouldn't read about 40 of the 50 Shearwell ear tags.
The tags would read with my own Psion/Shearwell stock recorder.
I got a bit irate later that day when the inspector later started making a fuss over 1 missing tag number from my movement licences from over 1000 ear tags.

 

[shearerlad]

We had a sheep count with animal health inspectors in November. They ran 50 sheep through the race to check the electronic tags and the governments own Shearwell stick reader wouldn't read about 40 of the 50 Shearwell ear tags.
The tags would read with my own Psion/Shearwell stock recorder.
I got a bit irate later that day when the inspector later started making a fuss over 1 missing tag number from my movement licences from over 1000 ear tags.

I’ve got a neighbour who had a similar issue during an inspection. In Scotland it’s 60 sheep to check. A large number of his wouldn’t read with the Scotgov reader (iirc it’s an agrident with the yellow band), even though the farmer’s reader read them all perfectly. Inspector wanted those sheep retagged but farmer told them to politely “F off”

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

I’ve got a neighbour who had a similar issue during an inspection. In Scotland it’s 60 sheep to check. A large number of his wouldn’t read with the Scotgov reader (iirc it’s an agrident with the yellow band), even though the farmer’s reader read them all perfectly. Inspector wanted those sheep retagged but farmer told them to politely “F off”

This has suddenly become an interesting thread as it appears that the read issues may well have far more to do with the reader than the tag.
We read several thousand tags with Shearwell sticks and on their tags the failure rate is lower than 0.2% or about 2 in a thousand. However some of the other major manufacturers especially ones that are like chewing gum have a very high failure rate!
Now possibly if one used their reader would the results be reversed?

I somehow doubt it as I believe that most of the worlds chips come from the same supplier!

But perhaps it should be investigated. There is no doubt that race readers (panel readers) have to be set up well as metal and wiring upsets the reads.

 

[FordFarmer]

Just had a first go with my new and first stick reader. Was weighing store lambs so decided to read all the tags as a test and for some basic data.

In this batch there are approx 150 stores all bought in plus a few ewe lambs Ive retained.

So as you can imagine a selection of makes of tags.

But Im guessing approx 50% of the tags were shearwell as I recognise them as they are all I have ever used. Pretty much all of the shearwell tags read, think there was 1 that did not.

But I have a good % of the other makes that failed to read, dont know the make to be honest.

What sort of failure % should you see? Quite pleased that Shearwell read well as just ordered a new batch ready for lambing.

And we’re all guilty of critiacising markets when they miss tags... maybe shouldn’t be as harsh

 

[Al R]

This has suddenly become an interesting thread as it appears that the read issues may well have far more to do with the reader than the tag.
We read several thousand tags with Shearwell sticks and on their tags the failure rate is lower than 0.2% or about 2 in a thousand. However some of the other major manufacturers especially ones that are like chewing gum have a very high failure rate!
Now possibly if one used their reader would the results be reversed?

I somehow doubt it as I believe that most of the worlds chips come from the same supplier!

But perhaps it should be investigated. There is no doubt that race readers (panel readers) have to be set up well as metal and wiring upsets the reads.

What about retention? I find some missing, 3 ewe lambs in yesterday and 2 needed new tags as the yellow had gone, no ripped ears either, they were tagged in August. A shesrwell reader is next on my list - I don’t like the agrident 1 I have and I find it doesn’t read 1/50 of the shearwell tags.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Why does anyone use anything but Shearwell

 

[Farmer_Joe]

This has suddenly become an interesting thread as it appears that the read issues may well have far more to do with the reader than the tag.
We read several thousand tags with Shearwell sticks and on their tags the failure rate is lower than 0.2% or about 2 in a thousand. However some of the other major manufacturers especially ones that are like chewing gum have a very high failure rate!
Now possibly if one used their reader would the results be reversed?

I somehow doubt it as I believe that most of the worlds chips come from the same supplier!

But perhaps it should be investigated. There is no doubt that race readers (panel readers) have to be set up well as metal and wiring upsets the reads.

ive used bubble gum for a while in breeders i keep and sell, and once in a batch of stores as they sent wrong tags!

never had one fail to read in auction race, (they wont sell it if it wont read) and never had one 'fall' out always ripped out if lost,

dont read them my self as i cant make up my mind which one to buy

as you say i wonder if a different reader would read the tags?

 

[JD-Kid]

used shear well tags here. good reading with a true test. reader both panel and stick reader but. have had a few tags pulled out think hooked on sticks
use leader tags have a good read rate on then and don't have too many pulled out
used button tags for a start and lost alot more also found higher number of miss reads