Farmers have started ordering cattle tags for the 2018/19 season. Three tag supply companies are approved by the Department of Agriculture: Mullinahone Co-op, Cormac Tagging and Datamars Agri.

The price variation between the three companies has narrowed for 2018/19. Mullinahone’s prices are unchanged on last winter at €2.90 including VAT for its standard visual and tissue tag set.

The other two companies have increased prices slightly for their standard visual tags. Cormac Tagging is selling its standard visual and tissue tag set at €2.88 including VAT, up by 10c on last winter. Datamars Agri’s is at €2.90 including VAT, an increase of 22c, for its tissue tag and visual set.

All three companies are charging €3.95 for their electronic and tissue tags sets, including VAT. Demand for electronic tags has grown rapidly in each of the past three years and is likely to jump again in 2018/19.

Cormac and Datamars are both charging €21.90 including VAT for their universal applicators which apply visual, electronic and tissue tags. Mullinahone charges €24.60 for its applicator.

All of the above tag prices include a contribution of 31c plus VAT from the supply company to ICBF.

The three tag supply companies committed to make this contribution under an agreement reached with the Department of Agriculture.

The above prices relate to orders made by post. Postage and packaging is €5.50 in the case of Mullinahone and Datamars and €5.95 with Cormac Tagging. All three companies also take orders online.

Applicator

Cormac offers a free applicator for a farmer’s first online order of over 50 tags, as well as free replacement of lost 2018/2019 tags.