[Christian]

For the last couple of weeks, our newborn kid has been 5 month and 31 days old, so it's time to think about giving her a proper tag. From what I have understood, the least messy tag combination (she's not for slaughter, so she needs two) would be a tattoo and a pastern tag, even though according to DEFRA (is that what they call themselves nowadays?) this is not an officially approved combination (does that matter?).
However, the only 'approved' producer of pastern-tags (again according to DEFRA) is on http://www.agriflextags.co.uk/ - which is a link that does not work (now, there's a surprise).
Can you shed a wee bit of light into purchase and application of both tattoo pliers and pastern tags?

Christian & Nikki at Desperate Smallholders, Tweedsmuir

[Carolswoolies]

I am going to order from Dalton.

http://www.dalton.ie/northern/download/Catalogue.pdf

Hope this helps!

[ballingall]

Hi Christian

 

I know some people up here have spoken to their local office (Perth), and have been told that it is ok to use to the tattoo and pastern tag. So it might be worth asking your local office-not sure where that would be?

Beth

[Anke]

RE tattoing pliers - unless you will be breeding quite a few kids every year, the pliers (pig ones, you need a minimum of 6 spaces, and mine are 7mm high), plus number sets, plus empty spaces plus tattoing paste will be an expensive option. But a once-in-a-lifetime one only. My tattoo set came from Fearings. Dalton's do pastern tags, but there must be others too
The problem with the pastern tags is that my kids have not big enough pasterns yet to fit one.., so I would have one on the smallest setting but would have to watch like a hawk to make sure to increase the size (meaning taking one out and replacing with new one on larger setting)... so far we are on tattoo and one tag (unless they have to be cut out because of serious infection.... which is pretty much happening all the time ).
No easy solution I am afraid.
 

[wytsend]

I have concerns with pastern tags & Goats.  Maybe unfounded, but those that graze/browse for a large part of their day I am concerned about bits of twig for example, working its way under the pastern tags and causing an unseen abrasion.    Meaning yet another point of infection.
Tattooing is the way forward I am sure of that.    There has also been a suggestion that the 'eartag' which can easily be removed, could be attached to a well fitting collar.   The loss rate would be the same as an ear tag without the potential infection.  The animal is PERMANENTLY marked by the tattoo, the collar tag offers the visual ID.
What do others think ?

[fifixx]

Read this the other day http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/10/18/62159.htm

Presumably in the case of an inspection we will all be in trouble, however I'd be really interested in tattoo at least one side instead of tags - and I don't sell on so that won't be an issue....

[wytsend]

The only difference is UK is exempt from mcrochipping as a derogation is in place.

[Lesley Silvester]

I haven't tagged mine until absolutely essential, ie when one went for slaughter. I do have the tags and applicator ready though.

[jinglejoys]

I certainly wouldn't want to go back to tattoeing

[Lesley Silvester]

Why not? I've never done it so don't know what is involved.

[Christian]

Hello again,
thanks for all your replies! Anke seems right - there ain't no easy solution...

But now at least I've got a plan! 1) Call my animal health people in Galashiels to find out if they are fine with 'my neighbour's' goats having tattoo and pastern tags. 2) Buy some nice pastern tags at dalton (long live the Irish) and some tattoo pliers (why on earth do they cost so much - do they do them in Ireland?). Finally, tattoo the girl (try first Nikki's leather handbag) but keep the pastern tags until the day they become necessary (avoiding twigs and having to change them when she grows).
Jinglejoys, you seem to have some experience - please share! The girls won't like being tattoo'ed but on the good side, a tattoo can't easily be tempered with.

Best,

Christian & Nikki at desperate smallholders, tweedsmuir

[ballingall]

Tattoooing looks like a medival form of torture, with all of the pins etc. No, they dont like it at the time. But, once its done, its over. Unlike an eartag which can become infected, sore, weeping and cause weeks of pain and misery. Never mind if they rip it out, and need their ear stitched up afterwards.

The only trouble with tattooing for me, is that I have AN's who ca have black skin- and its awful difficult to get a dye that means the tattoo will show up 6 months after they have been done.....

We have got a set of ear markers here which you could have borrowed Christian, but I appreciate we're not very near to hand!

Beth

[wytsend]

Green pig paste is the answer for black ears !!!!!!    Never not been able to clearly read after 5/6years particularly with a torch behind.

[jinglejoys]

I dip the point of the tag in aloe vera before I put it in and have never had infection and I can read the tags without a torch and from a distance if I can get the right tags. Unfortunately they don't make the ones I like anymore so am looking for the nearest things too them.
   Tried some small ones years ago and they just came out. The worst are those button on as they really cause infections from what I have seen.
   I wish DEATHRA would make up its bloody mind I'm fed up of buying new tags and applicators everytime!

[ballingall]

Green pig paste is the answer for black ears !!!!!!    Never not been able to clearly read after 5/6years particularly with a torch behind.

Green pig paste is what we use, but for the black ears it still doesn't show very well. Mind you tried yellow and white paste and they don't seem to be any better 


Beth