Order tags in adequate time:

It is worth reminding farmers that changes to the tagging system mean that the Department of Agriculture will not be circulating tag order forms to producers. Under the new arrangement farmers must contact the tag supplier they wish to order tags from for 2017 and place an order. Note that the Caisley tags traded by the company require a different tagger to apply tags so this should be ordered at the same time.

The Caisley tags:

The conventional and tissue tags come in one strip which can be separated at tagging. The tissue tag is the Caisley FLEXOplusGENO tag. This combines animal identification and tissue sampling in one application with a tissue sample collected and encapsulated in a vial in a one-step procedure. This is made possible by the metal tip on the tag (pictured) collecting the sample as it cuts through the animal’s ear and then seals the vial.

This means that the metal tip is removable from the tag. You should be mindful of this and handle the tags in a manner that doesn’t pull the metal tip off the tag. Farmers who have lost the metal tip can contact the company, who will send out a spare one.

Applying the tag:

General advice on applying the tag is similar irrespective of the type of tags. The cow and calf should be separated as a safety precaution and a facility should be available to restrain the calf if required. The tag should be applied in a clean environment. Once the calf is restrained, apply the tag approximately midway in height of the calf’s ear (between the cartilage) and about midway to two-thirds in from the tip of the ear. The female or button part of the tag should always be placed on the inner side of the ear. Cormac Tagging recommend farmers to read the instruction leaflet or watch the tutorial video at www.cormactagging.ie. They also advise closing the tagger securely to ensure that the two tags are adequately secured together.

The BVD tissue sample:

Animal Health Ireland recommends tagging calves as soon as possible after birth to increase the accuracy of the Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) test, with a greater risk of animals returning a false positive (transient infection) the longer animals are left from birth to tagging. As mentioned earlier, the vial is securely closed in the tagging process. The vial does not need to be stored in a fridge due to desiccant already contained in the vial. However, the vial should still be stored in normal conditions and not left, for example, in a bag on the dashboard of a jeep where there may be excessive heat. The AHI website, www.animalhealthireland.ie, contains a full list of labs approved by DAFM for analysing tissue tags. Most of these labs now have the capability to test tags supplied by Cormac Tagging but if unsure it may be worth contacting the lab before posting samples. AHI recommendations on postage remain the same and padded envelopes with the writing “Exempt Animal specimen” should continue to be used.

General advice on calf registration

  • Calves must be tagged with a tag in each ear within 20 days of birth or before they leave the holding, if this occurs before day 20.
  • Calves must be registered within seven days of tagging and at the latest before they reach 27 days of age. Registration can take place via the identically numbered paper application form, Agfood.ie or other approved online software programs or through the ICBF registration booklet.
  • Record births in your herd register. If you are using an online herdbook, this will suffice.