The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: CornishFarmer on September 02, 2011, 09:57:26 am
-
.
-
We use the allfex " babe" really good to read at a distance haven't had any fall out yet but they were a b***er to get in, had to get the hang of it and don't split the tag at the bottom before you put them in the ear or it is very hard to marry up the male and female bits!
-
I use Shearwells SETtags for both my goats and my sheep and have had no problems so far - none of the sheep has lost any, and although I had to cut out one of goatling's tags recently due to an an infection that I couldn't get to clear with the tag in place (she is very bad in trying to put her (now too big) head through the fence to get to the greener grass...) her ear was not torn or anything and it is healing up well.
Good customer service as well.
If you are in Scotland you can even choose the colours...
-
Allflex bubblegum for me, havent lost a single one of last years tags to date! And small enough for Shetland little lugs!
-
We also use the Allflex Bubblegum - they are soft, the EID part is neatly contained in the pin, easy to read and none of ours has fallen out from last year or this BUT they are difficult sometimes to get in. This is because they are so flexible that the pin can be deviated by the ear as you get ready to close the applicator. A quick closing is more likely to end in failure than a bit slower - but obviously not too slow. We did have one tag where the pin broke on application, which is a bummer as they are very difficult to remove.
-
Just a tip I found from much experimentation, the best and most brilliant and safe way to cut off ear tags is a pair of dog toe nail clipers (the scissor style ones not the guillotine style ones). They have a sharp cutting action but no long blades.
-
Ooh I'll look in the pet shop as we still have to remove the pair of the one which broke. OH uses a specific pair of pliers to cut them but they don't work with Bubblegum tags.
-
Kwik Eid for us - I used them last year and this year,
So far 100% retention, no broken tags and no ripped ears.
And easy to apply - no bending of the pin.
Thanks
-
Cox agri.
I used Alflex Electramatic last year and they were a DISASTER and I wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole because their customer service was non existent. Ended up cutting all the tags out. I assume they will have improved the design this year. Fine for very small breeds of sheep but not at all suitable for normal sized lambs.
-
The Qwik Eid are Cox Agri who we are agents for,
Thanks
-
We used Roxan for the first time this year and were very pleased with them.
-
Anothe vote for Allflex bubblegum
-
I use Allflex bubblegum and they are great.
-
I've started to use zeetag button tags. I find they are big enough to be seen at a distance but having no loops they don't get caught to be pulled out. In my killing lambs I try to use the cheapest I can find, I only intend having the tag in the ear for the duration of the journey to the slaughter house.