Cormac Tagging is trialling a Caisley herd management leg band for introduction into Ireland. The electronic identification leg band (pictured) is primarily aimed for use with dairy herds. The band is reusable and compatible with all animal identification and automation systems.

Cormac Tagging is also examining possible future use here of a double tissue tag set (pictured). With this combination, there are two tissue tags with both carrying the same animal identification number. These tags are already in use in a number of EU member states for official identification purposes.

According to Henrik Winkeler of Caisley International: “It is approved in Italy where one of the two samples is analysed for BVD while DNA is extracted from the other sample for genomic testing. The double tissue tag is also used extensively in Denmark and Poland for BVD and DNA purposes as well. It is approved for use with an electronic combination if required in these countries.

“The German federal states Lower-Saxony and Bavaria use double-sampling tag combinations as part of the national identification scheme as well. In these two projects, both samples are foreseen for BVD testing. If one sample gives a suspicious or a positive result, the labs can immediately refer to the second sample.

‘‘The availability of the second sample saves a lot of time and cost as no additional sampling ear tag has to be produced and sent to the farm and no vet has to visit the farm for further blood sampling.”

Meanwhile, for this year, Cormac Tagging has introduced new software to help farmers ordering replacement tags. “The farmer goes online and can view all passport numbers in his herd,” said Ursula Kelly of Cormac Tagging. “He then simply clicks on the one he needs. It avoids having to enter individual numbers and reduces errors.”

The Galway company continues to offer free replacement identification tags for 2017/18. It is also offering a range of management ear tags including a double electronic tag set for €2.95 including VAT.