Just wondering about ear tags......

[tweaker101]

We just started calving a few days ago and have ran out of ear tags..went to the local feed store and they have alflex tags like we normally use and then they have some Y-tex tags....any thoughts on these Y-tex tags?...just curious

[tweaker101]

Sorry should have said Y-tex...lone star tags, they look ok just wondered on how they rated.

[perfecho]

Have had great luck with the Z-Tags, have lost very few over the years.

[SADIE]

Will respond at this time to your post now. Many have heard me mention this before.

The animal indentification eartag has been used for over 40 years now as a form of individual animal ID. There are many names and varieties out there and each producer will have his/her own preference that they liked.

I have followed what the Diary industry has used over the years as well and many producers have gone away from the ear to the Tag on a chain around the cows neck.

Structure of the Animal ID tag:

1)Backs of tags. Some have worked better than others. The Allflex model was used for the Allflex tag and followed on all the Fly tags.

Allflex really have a problem with the button breaking down at the back of the tag. Some batches appear to be better than others.

T backs on the Ritchie--harder plastic but in time those break off as well.

2)Neck of the plastic Animal ID tag. That is another weak spot that has become apparent on many types of these tags. Cold weather or whatever some of these tags have become brittle and break off at the neck.

IF you find one that works ---great I believe I have sold all types of tags available, I have heard the salespitch from salemen all saying that their tag is better.

I believe now and after 40 years in this industry that we have to get "Off the ear" in using for any information we want to keep or practice we want to apply to the animal for anything "long term" Ie annual fly tag---really they are not used much anymore, not like the push in the 80s and 90s.

Goodluck on your cow-herd. The calves almost all tags work for the length of time you need in your calf animal.

[burnt]

All Flex are the last tag I would use based on our experience over the years.

We have been using the Y-Tex for only a couple of years now so really haven't built much of a track record yet. They come in a combo, dangle tag with matching button tag.

But they do seem to be of a different quality material than the harder-plastic All Flex which, like Sadie said, get brittle and break over time.

[15444]

Any buttons for two piece tags will break, eventually. Allflex also have major issues with breaking at the neck.

Y-Tex have a major problem with curling edges. Any cattle I have bought in with Y-Tex tags will have then rolled up like a buritto within a couple years.

Ritchey tags don't break at the neck, but their buttons do, regardless of either the button or pin lock design.

Z-tags and Allflex's new A-tags - best retention of any. Occasionally they will pull out or rip out (1 in 50 or so).

I can't comment on Y-Tex's Lonestar tag as I have never used one. I would assume good retention being a one-piece design, but the curling edges keep me away from their tags.

[SADIE]

great post, great research 15444

Let's sum it all up. Problems problems problems with anything plastic placed in the bovine animal's ear.

How can one achieve traceability without FIRST, Achieving permanent animal ID first.

Said on record in the court-room June 15 2010 Habermehl vs CFIA.

[grassfarmer]

15444 "Z-tags and Allflex's new A-tags - best
retention of any. Occasionally they will pull out or rip
out (1 in 50 or so)."

I can only vouch for the Z-tag EID of these two and
state that in our experience the loss is 1 in 100 or
less and we now have 4 year olds wearing them.
Animal identification is not the big problem some
would have you believe.

[15444]

Well your just the most unique snowflake in the storm, GF. Majority of people I have met through the years quit tagging years ago as retention was so bad.

You saw the fads through the sales rings of metal tags, tags on chains, brisket tags, one piece tags, etc. All have their time in the spotlight.

Most cattle around here are run in the bush pastures (more trees than open grass). I suppose you have never seen a cow hang herself in the Y of a tree before, or a calf get it's head stuck in the hollow of a tree and die, or a bull rip out its nose ring after getting it caught in the bush. Any open area here is for crops and hay. If the majority of the pasture land was open fields, I have no idea how retention would be. I'll leave those conclusions to someone like Sadie.

But I know the trees don't make plastic crack and snap, and that Allflex purposefully puts poor plastic in their tags to cause greater losses and therefore more sales.

If you can find a Allflex tag from 40 years ago, you'll find they are very soft and pliable, even if you dig them out of a manure pile. Tags didn't snap and break off back then, like they do now.

[grassfarmer]

Why change sides now 15444? It was your quote I
used saying the retention was good (98%) on the
Ztags and a new Allflex tags. I agree with your finding
as it mirrors what we have found here.

[tweaker101]

Thanks for the comments, I will go and check out
the z- tags. We have some cows that lost there
tags and we had bought some that never had
tags.

[15444]

GF, not sure what you mean by changing sides.

[DogPatch]

Even Z-tags will pull out if caught in a tree or on a plank fence, but thats not the fault of the tag. Buy a chainsaw.

Too many RFID tags likely fail because they are put in in a hurry, and because of the cost, the applier is angry, and piss-off at CCIA, and don't take the time to put them in properly. Face it, traceability is here to stay (thank the Government for that)they listened to "all the consumers" that "DEMANDED" it. Yeah right!

[SADIE]

<a href="http://s1138.photobucket.com/albums/n523/kphaber/?action=view&current=2012-07-01203635_zpsb44a6368.jpg" target="_blank"></a>

Finished working 30 cow calf pairs yesterday.

There was 7 buttons out of that group that had the "beautiful' Male Backs looking like this.

Again this if for grassfarmer. Would you like me to mail this to you.

ALLFLEX model RFID put in correctly deep in the ear between the ribs.

At the round table discussion of the Western Canadian Association of Bovine practicioners conference in Jan 2011 I commented at the Mic to the large veterinary audience, Some CFIA, SOme Lovers of these tags and system.

"Maybe is the change the color from yellow to VIAGRA BLUE where might be a better Tag Retention Success Rate".

The American Contigent of BOVINE Practicioners just chuckled throughout the three day conference about this great Canadian Traceability program.

[SADIE]

<a href="http://s1138.photobucket.com/albums/n523/kphaber/?action=view&current=2012-06-30214101_zps89bb0e70.jpg" target="_blank"></a>

Here is the same Alflex button on the back of one of the ANGUS RFID buttons put in a calf at this ranch a year ago.

The break is typical. Right at the Washer that is present that the stem is welded to before the plastic mold is poured to make this male button.