Ear tags

nz dexter · Post by **nz dexter** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 1:22 am

This year I have tagged my calves with their numbers and barcode on the back of their ear and a blank one on the front on which I wrote their names or a few letters of it. The problem is that I used what is called a "vivid" it is supposed to be waterproof but today I noticed that some of them have faded. Do others do this and what sort of pen do you use so that it stays forever.

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:16 am

We poor down-trodden farmers in Britain aren't allowed to write on eartags, nz Dexter. We have to buy ready printed ones and re-order them (at considerable cost) when our darling animals mislay the wretched things. I did buy a pen especially for sheep tags (when that was allowed) but like you found that they faded after a few months. I bought a pen to use for frozen food labels. That doesn't smudge when damp but I don't know if it would work on plastic tabs.

Rebecca · Post by **Rebecca** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 2:50 pm

I am in Australia and use an "Allflex Tag Pen". Allflex being the brand name and a tag manufacturer. The instructions are to write details once, allow it to dry and then write over it again. So far tags I wrote a couple of years ago are still readable, but I am not sure exactly how long they will stay that way. The pen does say "Made in New Zealand" on it, so I assuming you can buy them there?

nz dexter · Post by **nz dexter** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 3:50 am

Thank you. I guess I look at the local rural supply shop. Could be a little tricky to write on it twice now that they are in the ears. We are supposed to be getting a new set of cattle yards with a head bail (when hubby gets around to it) so will have to wait till then I guess or I will make a mess of them.

Rebecca · Post by **Rebecca** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:22 am

Even with a head bail they can be tricky to write on - these pens "pump" the ink into the tip to prime them. I attempted to overwrite the tag on a new cow we bought (thought it would be easier than removing the existing tag and putting a new one in). She pulled her head up just as I started to write, pushed the tip, release the ink and the tag and myself ended up the same colour as the cow (black) -try not to get the ink on yourself - it doesn't come off! Conclusion - easier to replace the tag!!

Inger · Post by **Inger** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:05 am

I wrote on our pig eartags using an Allflex pen and was told to write over the number twice (that's 3 times in total), letting the ink dry between layers of ink. It worked well. I'll be using it for sheep eartags next. I'm with Rebecca, cut through the shank of the existing eartags and replace them with new tags with you have written on.