Lambing Outside and Recording Lambs Simply?

[Frank-the-Wool]

There has been a number of posts about EID readers and recording and tagging lambs at birth.

Those of us who lamb outside in all weathers, but would like to do this as simply as possible are looking for a few tips.

We already use Shearwell stick readers but these while very robust are very limited in their use. Yes they can be linked to something like Herdwatch/Flockwatch through a mobile phone, but using touch screens on mobile phones in the rain and mud can be an issue.
Which stick reader can be used that will be capable of adding additional information easily and then transfer the information to a robust piece of hardware that is easy to read/see and edit.

Distance of read is always an issue as I don't want to be catching ewes just after they have lambed. What is the best EID reader for distance reading?

What is the best way to record lambs for the long term? Shearwell tags are quite bulky but we have had good retention when put in at a few weeks old, but have no experience of tagging at birth and am nervous about infections. Do people keep the tags in disinfectant? The Roxan tags are smaller, but will they last for 6 or 7 years?

With the grant money being offered under the new FETF I am keen to go for the best and simplest equipment that is idiot proof.

Then looking ahead to weighing lambs, how reliable are fast are panel readers? The early ones were not always effective and were frustrating to use. I don't really want to buy a new weigh crate and would like to retro fit if possible.

Anyone using a TruTest XR 5000 and could this be the answer?

 

[Six Dogs]

We record 1000 ewes lambing outside-Romney/Highlanders-the must I think is a Zee tag management tag-put in all shearlings as they enter the flock which stays with that ewe as her ID-very easy to read
We use an Agrident 6 reader-all I want to be doing is recording information not viewing it at lambing time
We use a Border Software weigh crate with an integrated reader loom so no experience of panel readers

 

[Six Dogs]

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

We record 1000 ewes lambing outside-Romney/Highlanders-the must I think is a Zee tag management tag-put in all shearlings as they enter the flock which stays with that ewe as her ID-very easy to read
We use an Agrident 6 reader-all I want to be doing is recording information not viewing it at lambing time
We use a Border Software weigh crate with an integrated reader loom so no experience of panel readers

Good idea. How do you find the right ewe? Do you just type in the number on the Zee tag and that is linked to the EID.

What is the retention like on the Zee tags?
At what point do you link the lambs EID to the ewes EID? Does the Agrident do it automatically when you put in the Zee tag number?

We will also only want to enter information at lambing and not view it. However I would like to view information easily when weaning etc.

 

[Tim W]

I've recorded outside for 35 years & I find the first thing is to link the ewes Eid to a management number ( I've always sprayed a number on the ewe) . When a ewe lambs I punch her spray mark into the Psion & then link the lamb tags ( shearwell does this automatically, it also allocated the correct sire to the lambs) ... the information is then there whenever you need it. Our panel reader works well, although like all these gadgets you do need to treat them with care . My panel reader is in my Scotpen race, I just attached it to a plastic board as the signal gets interfered with if there is too much metal sheeting around

 

[Tim W]

If you've got the cash & can see a value then DNA parentage is the answer

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

I've recorded outside for 35 years & I find the first thing is to link the ewes Eid to a management number ( I've always sprayed a number on the ewe) . When a ewe lambs I punch her spray mark into the Psion & then link the lamb tags ( shearwell does this automatically, it also allocated the correct sire to the lambs) ... the information is then there whenever you need it. Our panel reader works well, although like all these gadgets you do need to treat them with care . My panel reader is in my Scotpen race, I just attached it to a plastic board as the signal gets interfered with if there is too much metal sheeting around

Tim
Remember I am trying to improve the quality and value of the wool!!

You have a blank canvas to write on.
I like the idea of the Zee tags.

Yes DNA will be the next step and am looking into it but probably need to identify the best sheep first.

 

[Levelsman]

Do those come with 'lifetime' warranty?

 

[ladycrofter]

We can't get this far because, for one thing, we can't get around the idea of tagging at birth. The ear is so fragile. I tried years ago. Their ears folded over from the weight. Most tags got ripped out one way or another. I tried the little padlock style Roxan tags one year and they vanished too.

Ours at birth are already getting banded, iodine navel, SpotOn, Vit E injection and spray marked. This is in the field. I don't think OH could also manage punching buttons and entering numbers etc. Stick would be banging around the box on the quad in the rain and mud.

How do you manage?

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

We can't get this far because, for one thing, we can't get around the idea of tagging at birth. The ear is so fragile. I tried years ago. Their ears folded over from the weight. Most tags got ripped out one way or another. I tried the little padlock style Roxan tags one year and they vanished too.

Ours at birth are already getting banded, iodine navel, SpotOn, Vit E injection and spray marked. This is in the field. I don't think OH could also manage punching buttons and entering numbers etc. Stick would be banging around the box on the quad in the rain and mud.

How do you manage?

Given up on tagging lambs for same reasons. Only thing that is fool proof is ear notching

 

[Six Dogs]

Good idea. How do you find the right ewe? Do you just type in the number on the Zee tag and that is linked to the EID.

What is the retention like on the Zee tags?
At what point do you link the lambs EID to the ewes EID? Does the Agrident do it automatically when you put in the Zee tag number?

We will also only want to enter information at lambing and not view it. However I would like to view information easily when weaning etc.

Yes the EID is linked to the management tag-only have to do this once rather than every year if you spray a management number
The retention on the Zee tags is brilliant loose less than 2%-we use Border Software to analyse

 

[Six Dogs]

Lambs are tagged at birth with Shearwell tags

 

[Six Dogs]

Do those come with 'lifetime' warranty?

I was sceptical about them but genuinely loose less than 2%

 

[puppet]

What are you recording electronically? Lambing ease, twins, weight? I can see that being easier inside but like others I don't like tagging wee lambs.
Is there any advantage in an outside flock over just separating groups for singles and twins and a red neck for those ewes with problems which go to the field of death?
You may get a better idea of performance and what lambs to keep as replacements at 3 months old rather than birth.

 

[Six Dogs]

What are you recording electronically? Lambing ease, twins, weight? I can see that being easier inside but like others I don't like tagging wee lambs.
Is there any advantage in an outside flock over just separating groups for singles and twins and a red neck for those ewes with problems which go to the field of death?
You may get a better idea of performance and what lambs to keep as replacements at 3 months old rather than birth.

Since we started recording we have lifted scanning by 30%-8 week weight by 14%-twinning to 70%~in a closed flock it’s about identifying the bottom third and these go to a terminal sire -I couldn’t afford to just cull them but managing the bottom end lifts the whole flock output

 

[neilo]

On my outdoor lambing ewes, I have always tagged potential replacement ewe lambs at birth (with SET tags). I can’t think that I’ve ever had one get infected, which can occasionally happen indoors. Retention is the downside with Shearwell these days, but only as the tags age a bit and go brittle, not from pulling out.

I will already have recorded sire & scanning details against each ewe on my software (Shearwell Farmworks), so parentage is pre-populated on my handheld reader as soon as I put the ewe’s ID in.

I have used a Psion for many years, but now have a Nautiz X6 (Psion eventually died and is discontinued) to record in the field, which is a rugged Android phone with a tag reader on.
Reading distance is far more limited than a stick reader, but a hell of a lot less unwieldy.
I hold the newborn lambs between my legs and read the ewe’s EID tags as she comes in to lick their lambs. Every one of my Highlander X ewes is attentive enough that they will do that, although very few of the shedding ewes are that good maternally so I can see why you might want something distance readable for more flighty ewes.
I’d want to get them all so that they stick tight to their lambs though, so don’t retain from nut job ewes if I can help it.

 

[puppet]

That sounds a good result. However, has some improvement been by just recording. You will have changed your behaviour - handling sheep more often and making decisions.
We would tend to get rid of the poor performers whether cattle or sheep. Can affect numbers some years

 

[Tim W]

have used a Psion for many years, but now have a Nautiz X6 (Psion eventually died and is discontinued) to record in the field, which is a rugged Android phone with a tag reader on.

How do you find the X6 in the wet?
I've just been trying one out but find the touch screen a bit dodgy in wet conditions?
2 screensavers could help?

 

[neilo]

How do you find the X6 in the wet?
I've just been trying one out but find the touch screen a bit dodgy in wet conditions?
2 screensavers could help?

Fortunately not had to test it in torrential rain over the last 2 lambings, but wiping it on my sleeve has cleared it enough to make it work normally. I do find it less responsive than the Psion it replaced though, so if you press a second button two quickly it can still be trying to catch up with itself. Read distance isn't as good as the Psion either, even with the newer reader attached (original one was worse apparently).

I'd stick with the Psion if it's still working OK.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Anyone using a TruTest XR 5000 and could this be the answer?

the answer to emptying your wallet ? yes .