Brush Up On Ear Tagging Techniques

A big part of most spring activities on any farm is tagging season, which doesn't have to be stressful if you're properly prepared...which is true if this is your first tagging season or if it is your 50th! From cattle and calves to hogs and piglets, and even sheep and goats, most livestock are tagged either for management/sorting purposes or due to a USDA requirement (in the case of Premise ID or Scrapies tags in swine).

Looking for tagging supplies? We've got you covered here at QC Supply from tags of all sorts to taggers. We offer all the major brands - Allflex, Destron Fearing, Z Tags & Y-Tex. Our full line of livestock identification supplies can be found here.

Ensuring proper and effective application of ear tags is essential for long-term tag retention and accurate identification, as well as reducing animal stress and risk of infection or injury. To make this process easier on both the animal and the caregiver, follow our recommendations for ear tag application preparation and placement.

Prepare Your Tools

• Locate all of the necessary tools you'll need - taggers, replacement pins, tagging markers & most importantly, ear tags
• If  you need more tags, make sure you pad in shipping & handling time, as most ear tag companies can take weeks to ship tags, especially if your tags require custom printing or are electronic
• Make sure to have enough on hand for the number of animals being tagged
• Create an efficient & safe workspace so animals can be handled quickly & efficiently

Establish Biosecurity Measures

• Use proper hygiene to prevent the spread of bacteria & viruses, from animal to animal
• Clean the animal's ear area, wash your hands & use gloves, clean the tagger with alcohol or a different disinfectant, and place equipment on a hygienic surface  to minimize the transfer of unhealthy microbes

Restrain Animals Properly

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  Protect both yourself & the animal by properly restraining the animal
  • Cattle: Chute with a head gate, halter, and/or a nose lead
  • Calves: Keep away from the cow to prevent the mother from interfering with the process. Use a calf crate, or position the head between your legs, facing your head in the same direction as the calf's
  • Swine: Confine in a small pen, hog boards to restrict movement, or a hog snare to secure the hog
  • Sheep & Goats: Securely grip the animal's head to restrict movement
  • Restrain older animals in a chute for tag application while vaccinating or handling other processing steps

Know the Right Placement

• Make sure all handlers are properly trained on how to load the tag, pin & button into the applicator - follow the manufacturer's instructions
• A common mistake is applying the tag backward, so double-check to ensure everyone knows how to apply the tag before catching the animals
• Tags must be placed properly in ears to prevent unnecessary pain; keep the ear clean & clear of debris or hair
• Avoid veins to prevent bleeding & cartilage ridges to avoid infection or deforming the ear
• Insert visual tags in the center of the ear & EID tags 2/3 of the way into the ear from the edge of the ear toward the skull
  • Tags applied too close to the tip of the ear may become snagged, causing them to get pulled out
• EID tags must be applied with the visual panel/male portion of the tag on the outside back of the ear with the EID button/female portion of the tag on the inside of the ear so they can be scanned later

Application of the Tags

• Place each half of the tag onto the applicator
• The stud must be inserted completely onto the applicator pin & the panel/button placed under the opposite clip
• Before tagging the animal, check the alignment of the tagger by closing the jaw of the applicator to the point where the 2 halves meet; the stud should be centered with the hole
• Position the applicator in the identified tagging site on the animal's ear, firmly close the applicator in a fast manner & release
• After application, rotate the tag to make sure it moves freely; repeat this process for the other ear if tagging both ears
  • Don't forget to record necessary data on the animal

After Care

• After tagging, keep an eye on the animal for several days, watching for signs of infection or irritation
  • In the unlikely event of an infection, remove the tag & consult your veterinarian for treatment advice. Make sure the infection has cleared before reapplying the tag
• It is recommended to apply a daily topical application of hydrogen peroxide for 5-7 days on both the ear & ear tag puncture following application to prevent infection.