Dedicated to informing cattle ranchers on the benefits and uses of identifying their animals with ear tags.
Cattle ear tags are a molded plastic identification tag that is designed to be affixed to the ear of cattle and other livestock. They provide a visual means of identifying animals and come in a variety of sizes and shapes.
Visual cattle ear tags will provide quick and easy identification giving you the ability to refer to your specific data. RFID (electronic) cattle tags tie directly into a system that provides all sorts of information about the animal but will require scanners and software to operate.
Cattle ear tags are made of durable and weather resistant materials to perform in all types of conditions.
Visual cattle ear tags are affordable for most sized farms or ranches. Typically the ear tag consists of two pieces - the tag and a back button (or stud) to attach to the ear, however there are versions where tag and stud are bonded together and referred to as a "one piece" tag. Different sizes are offered for the size of the animal, the amount of information it will contain, and good visibility from a distance. Tags come in a variety of colors that allow for coding the year, the location, differentiating from other farms or just being a favorite choice.
Ear tags require a specific tool for application that is designed to fit to the tag and back button. Proper installation of the tag is very important for retention, infection control and safety issues.
The difference between one-piece and two-piece tags is most often a personal preference. Visual tags can be purchased blank or custom printed. Blank tags can be written on with special tag marking pens which will allow for individualized information such as birth dates. Custom printed tags are typically numbered and may also include ranch names, phone numbers and in some cases logos or brands.
RFID tags typically cost more and need to be used in conjunction with software and chip readers, but will provide a wealth of information about the animal and allow for optimum herd management. RFID tags are sometimes used with visual tags to provide easy identification as well as the full program of data.
Both RFID and Visual cattle ear tags are readily available from a variety of sources including farm supply stores, large animal veterinarian offices, and online retailers such as Ear Tags Direct