The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Lesley Silvester on August 04, 2015, 10:47:17 pm

Title: Ear tagging
Post by: Lesley Silvester on August 04, 2015, 10:47:17 pm
A friend of mine has set up this petition asking for a change in the law regarding identifying goats. Please sign.


https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-the-cruelty-of-ear-tagging-goats
Title: Re: Ear tagging
Post by: clydesdaleclopper on August 05, 2015, 12:48:17 pm
Signed  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Ear tagging
Post by: DavidandCollette on August 05, 2015, 01:31:49 pm
Signed :wave:l
Title: Re: Ear tagging
Post by: pharnorth on August 05, 2015, 01:35:13 pm
Done.  I wish them well. EU rules heavily enforced here, almost impossible to change.  Don't see many tagged goats running wild on Crete, but they all know their owner"
Title: Re: Ear tagging
Post by: Daisys Mum on August 05, 2015, 06:46:19 pm
Signed, I hate tags too and generally only tag the pigs before they go to slaughter, likewise the lambs as for little Mac the goat.....well maybe I'll do it when there are no flies about, or when it's not raining, or the suns not shining or it's not going to snow or it's not too windy, so hard to get the perfect weather for it  :innocent:
Title: Re: Ear tagging
Post by: Caroline1 on August 05, 2015, 09:12:42 pm
Signed. Have only had my babies 3 weeks and worry about the tags getting caught and ruining their beautiful ears.
Title: Re: Ear tagging
Post by: harmony on August 05, 2015, 09:58:35 pm
We have white pigs and tattoo but tags are the only defra recognised identification. If goats weren't tagged what would people prefer to do? Tattoo or notch? Tattoo pliers and numbers aren't cheap.
Title: Re: Ear tagging
Post by: JedM on August 06, 2015, 08:26:19 am
Signed... ;D :excited:
Title: Re: Ear tagging
Post by: Cosmore on August 06, 2015, 05:10:57 pm
My goats were all registered and in the herd book and had to have tattoos in the ear. As members of the county goat club we had the facility for free tattooing, as the club had purchased (from the subs) the pliers and the changeable templates for individual identities. In my opinion the tattoo is a quite sufficient permanent identity mark when done properly. Considering what goats can get up to and how they can play, I don't think ear tags are a good idea, but I'm afraid we are bound by the EU regulations. It's certainly worth a try to get a change (possibly on welfare grounds?) but I wouldn't hold out too much hope.
Title: Re: Ear tagging
Post by: Melmarsh on August 06, 2015, 08:17:32 pm
The BGS were asking to be informed of any problems with tagging and types of tags if anyone is interested. When I had goats mine were tattooed in both ears but when I moved I had to put a tag in the older ones that didn't have two tattoos . They were adult goats and aged so I never had a problem other than one just dropping out !! After several years. :wave:
Title: Re: Ear tagging
Post by: Herdygirl on August 07, 2015, 08:33:11 am
Signed, in this day and age there is no need to tag anything apart from criminals.
Title: Re: Ear tagging
Post by: mart6 on August 07, 2015, 07:39:02 pm
Signed and shared on a couple of large facebook groups
In this day and age you would think they could be chipped like dogs, job done
Title: Re: Ear tagging
Post by: Lesley Silvester on August 10, 2015, 11:47:27 pm
Microchipping would seem to be the sensible option.