[Ladygrey]

Hi there

Just wondering what tags everybody uses and what works best for you?

I use quik-id, the ones I get from suppliesforsmallholders

I am due to buy more red replacement tags and I would like to try a new brand, my tags get broken and ripped out and snapped and as they are narrow and they keep getting pulled through the sheeps ears really easily

Also I find when tagging adult ears the pin is not strong enough and bends too easily

I need a tag that is strong and maybe slightly wider than a strip so it does not pull through the ear so easily, I wouldn't mind trying flag tags or a tag I can read from further away, not too fond of button tags.

I don't know if my sheep are just prone to loosing them all the time or its just the tag 

Thanks

Jess

[bizzielizzie66]

Hi - I think all tag designs have their problems - but Shearwell Set Tags are the best I've found so far.  The problems with them pulling through the ear are potentially still there but if you tag close to the head with as little of the loop sticking proud of the ear as poss it's less likely to be caught.  I wouldn't use a button tag - they are asking to be ripped out.  I'd be interested too to hear what people's views on tag designs and manufacturers are.....

Anyone had any experience of pastern tags ? I know you still need one in the ear - but it's one less to be ripped out. I know only really practical for small flocks. You can have an electronic pastern tag with a plain ear tag or vice versa I think....

[Tim W]

Shearwell Data are the best for tags in my experience

I use 1000+ of their SET tags every year and loose maybe 5 or 10

The ones I loose are usually due to me putting them in poorly

I think they offer a free replacement service too----but you better check up on that

[SteveHants]

Another one for Shearwell SET tags here.


I used Dalton ones once and they were awful.

[bigchicken]

I hate all ear tags and wish they would do away with them all. I dislike intensely fitting them.

[Pedwardine]

Ketchum Kurl lock no4 are the best I've used. Extremely high retention rate and discreet looking. Bloody hate eartags 

[Bramblecot]

Shearwell - really helpful staff - get my vote .  But eartags there must be a better way.

[Penninehillbilly]

Another one for Shearwell SET tags here.

I used Dalton ones once and they were awful.

I use Dalton (Rototags ithink) they are put in as seperate pieces so you don't have the loop to catch on things.
However still rather annoyed at them for not advising me I could have had free pliers .
but so far no problems.
(apart from cat insisting on rolling about on my knee and attacking my hand as I'm trying to type this) 

[Tim W]

I like ear tags ---with 900 recorded ewes the only way to keep an accurate track of animals is through EID

If you want to know IDs what are the alternatives? Tattoos are useless, collars get lost and boluses are expensive

[Fleecewife]

We have used a variety of tags over the years but have settled on Allflex Bubblegum tags.  Their retention rate is good, they are wide and a bit flexible and can be read from a few feet away without having to catch the sheep.  They look too wide for small sheep ears but in use are fine.   The first year the applicator was a bit awkward to use but they have redesigned it and it works fine now.
 
We don't put them in until the lamb is 4 months old - before that we use a tiny metal 'padlock' tag designed for turkey wings, with a birth number (346 or whatever) on for cross referencing with the adult tags.
 
This system works well for us; as we breed pedigree sheep we need to know precisely who is who accurately.  We also need our tags to stay in for many years as our ewes can live well into their teens.

[Pasture Farm]

I used Dalton for a few years but always struggled with the pin bending on tuffer Ears. They have now got a different type
http://www.thetags4u.com/gb/product.php?productid=16406&featured=Y
 
Never have any problems now and ive done ooooodles.   \still loose the odd one or two though

[Marches Farmer]

We use Allflex Bubblegum like Fleecewife does.  We split them with scissors once in which saves some of the likelihood they'll be caught on fences and branches.  Probably a rule somewhere about not doing that but I'll bet it was, like the double tagging one, created by someone who's never even seen a sheep let alone tried to tag one. 

[Bionic]

This was my first year of lambing and I used Allflex Bubblegum tags too. So far so good. 
The ram lamb that I bought has a different type of tag. Its round but I don't know the name. We have only had him for a month so can't vouch for the success rate yet but it looks good.

[Ladygrey]

Thankyou very much everyone 

Will propably be ordering some tags soon and will look into getting some shearwell data ones most likely after all of the recommendations on here aswel as some recommendations off of some farmers today

Thankyou

[zarzar]

we also use shearwell tags the lambs tagged with theirs havent last any yet the orphan lambs that came with a diffrent type of tag all lost theres