The introduction of the compulsory ICBF levy meant that all three tag companies in Ireland had to update their order forms from 1 November this week.

Tag companies posted or advertised physical copies of new order forms, including the compulsory levy. However, Mullinahone Co-op is also sending out 25,000 emails to customers who had previously ordered online.

The email gave customers the option to download a new order form and post it to the co-op or continue ordering tags online, and came complete with cow emojis in the email heading.

Mullinahone told the Irish Farmers Journal that just under 50,000 of its customers now have an online account registered with the co-op.

“Over the last 12 months about 45% of customers have ordered tags online, and that’s a progression over the last four years,” said Liam Egan of Mullinahone Co-op.

Although relatively new to the tag market, Cormac Tagging reported that 27% of its customers ordered tags online.

The company also employed social media to let farmers know about the new order forms on Facebook and Twitter, along with advertising a new paper copy of its order form in the Irish Farmers Journal.

Datamars tag company also reported that a growing number of customers were choosing to order online, with 20% of its customers opting to order through the website.

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