Tag suppliers

[Jackov Altraids]

I'm just calculating my main annual order for cattle and sheep tags and thought I would review my supplier.

Shearwell were fantastic when I swapped to them many years ago but I do think that service has gone down while prices have gone up. No big issues but hoped you could advise whether I should try someone else.

 

[JP1]

Watching 👁

 

[Martyn]

Small firm excellent service are Markrite tags

www.markrite.co.uk

 

[tr250]

We have had tags from Nordic star the last few years and seem good and they are normally the most competitive. Unfortunately this year they have stopped doing metal secondary so I’ve had Nordic primary and Ketchum metal from shearwell.

 

[Sid]

Just bear in mind the electronic tagging is on the cards for cattle at some stage in the future.

 

[milkloss]

Had really good retention since changing to shearwell cattle tags a few years ago. I'd stick with them.

 

[Martyn]

Had really good retention since changing to shearwell cattle tags a few years ago. I'd stick with them.

I think Markrite tags are made by the same company as shearwell.

 

[Old Spot]

Watching with interest.
I am currently with Roxan, I order online and pay with PayPal.
occasionally I get a shitty letter from accounts saying I haven’t paid, they don’t respond to their sales@ email address
i had a phone call from a rep today surely most people just order online, no contact needed.
their contact phone number took me to the Northern Ireland office. I was after another BVD input sheet, it would be helpful to have one to download on their web page.
any decent tag company out there?

 

[Still Farming]

Allflex very good to deal with.

 

[bobajob]

Surprised you say shearwell are good for retention. We have stuck with shearwell for years and you tend to stay with what you normally use. But the number of cattle tags we need to replace seems a lot (free replacement for a good job ). They are not getting ripped out the ear but the break off below where they go through the ear, usually on the back.

 

[tr250]

I think Markrite tags are made by the same company as shearwell.

Yes I’ve seen others that are the same they even say combi2000 on them. Shearwell are expensive but do free replacements to make up for it

 

[Suffolksucklers]

Allflex all the way here. Shearwell might do free replacements but make up for it in postage costs! Or did do when we used them. Found allflex retain so much better and were cheaper to start with.

 

[Bob the beef]

Watching with interest.
I am currently with Roxan, I order online and pay with PayPal.
occasionally I get a shitty letter from accounts saying I haven’t paid, they don’t respond to their sales@ email address
i had a phone call from a rep today surely most people just order online, no contact needed.
their contact phone number took me to the Northern Ireland office. I was after another BVD input sheet, it would be helpful to have one to download on their web page.
any decent tag company out there?

Roxan was a fantastic little company while Brian Dickie owned it. Often he would pick up the phone himself. Since Datamars bought them out the accounts office have become ultra bolshie. I have dealt with them for years as they are just a few miles along the road and I know a lot of the staff and I like the products, but their PR the last few years has been pee poor

 

[Lazy Eric]

We find Caisley very good for retention and good service.

 

[mo!]

We find Caisley very good for retention and good service.

Also very happy with Caisley, their EID tags are dear so unfortunately will be looking elsewhere.

 

[Limcrazy]

As previously mentioned I've found shearwell tags break a lot especially the bvd sample tags. Definitely wouldn't buy them if they weren't offering free replacements. Shearwell have changed tag design again recently and know customer satisfaction has dropped. Customer sevice with them is excellent but am trying caisley tags in make calves to run with shearwell in females to compare loss rates up to 2 years old.

 

[Hilly]

Roxan was a fantastic little company while Brian Dickie owned it. Often he would pick up the phone himself. Since Datamars bought them out the accounts office have become ultra bolshie. I have dealt with them for years as they are just a few miles along the road and I know a lot of the staff and I like the products, but their PR the last few years has been pee poor

I use them but through Murray fc , I get on well as the I can txt the rep any time and he sorts any hassle , I changed to them from Allflex that were great while in Hawick but when they moved urgh ! No point using them if they not local anyway.

 

[hill farmer]

We've been having cattle tags off Mole Valley for a few yrs. Using their own moletags now, they were useless the first yr but since they changed supplier ( to Datamars I think) they are now really good and only just over a quid a pair
For sheep we use roxan for ewe lambs to keep and shearwell for slaughter lambs, have had problems with both for retention.
One thing I have found is that it's much easier to tag young lambs than 8-9 months old.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Allflex all the way here. Shearwell might do free replacements but make up for it in postage costs! Or did do when we used them. Found allflex retain so much better and were cheaper to start with.

The tag is free as is the postage...

 

[Jackov Altraids]

Had really good retention since changing to shearwell cattle tags a few years ago. I'd stick with them.

I think the company has got too big now to offer the brilliant service it used to and I'm still rather annoyed that they never replied to my request for a comment on the NBA's sustainable beef fiasco as they are gold corporate supporters.
I think I'll be giving Markrite a call based on the replies so far.