New Calf Tags Electronic from Mullinahone

Hugh 2

https://tags.mullinahonecoop.ie/ots/spring/selectProducts?execution=e5s1

I am looking at ordering electronic tags for 2014
There are 2 choices.
Electronic + Tissue Sampling Tag(s) Set
Combined Tissue/Electronic + Conventional Sampling
I faind it hard to see the difference and why would you choose one over the other?

bob charles

I must have being asleep but what are the electronic tags? chips in the tags or what

onyerbikepat

Electronic might refer to the Barcode ???

Hugh 2

Hi Bob

My interest in them is to do with automated calf feeding.
The alternative is to use collars on the calf where the calf is identified whenever he/she comes to feeding crate .(electronic tag option is only a euro extra)
I assume that down the line these tags can be read my milking parlours or vets doing testing etc.
Regards
Hugh
To answer your question they contain something that can be read by special electronic readers/scanners
http://www.mull-coop.com/eurotags/text/official_eid.html

delaval

I used all e tags on heifer calved last year. Conventional on males.

We have semi auto drafting at the mo and hope to go full e draft next year.

Order half as d tags and half conventional

bob charles

Hugh 2 wrote: »

Hi Bob

My interest in them is to do with automated calf feeding.
The alternative is to use collars on the calf where the calf is identified whenever he/she comes to feeding crate .(electronic tag option is only a euro extra)
I assume that down the line these tags can be read my milking parlours or vets doing testing etc.
Regards
Hugh
To answer your question they contain something that can be read by special electronic readers/scanners
http://www.mull-coop.com/eurotags/text/official_eid.html

soon the dept will be able to read them from the sky:o

Hugh 2

delaval wrote: »

I used all e tags on heifer calved last year. Conventional on males.

We have semi auto drafting at the mo and hope to go full e draft next year.

Order half as d tags and half conventional

Interesting idea but the bull calves will be mighty hungry at the calf feeder. :eek:
I considered using left over tags from last year on bull calf but now I think I will have to get replacement tags with chips it will be a cheaper one off option than buying collars at 20 to 30 euro a piece.

DeLaval what is the difference between the 2 options I am assuming that the chipped tag without the BVD test is a stronger option?
Regards
Hugh

delaval

Hugh 2 wrote: »

Interesting idea but the bull calves will be mighty hungry at the calf feeder. :eek:
I considered using left over tags from last year on bull calf but now I think I will have to get replacement tags with chips it will be a cheaper one off option than buying collars at 20 to 30 euro a piece.

DeLaval what is the difference between the 2 options I am assuming that the chipped tag without the BVD test is a stronger option?
Regards
Hugh

Yes I see what your getting at, you're using for calf feeder.

The e tag was not the sample tag in my case. The test tags are weaker IMV so I won't be getting those with chip

On another matter what calf feeding system do you have?
Deffo our weakest element here. Numbers grew but calf facilities lagging behind.
I say a fabulous facility in Germany last week. It was an Aroof with no sides and igloo style hutches around the perimeter. I rate as the best I've ever seen. I intend visiting two more of these units over the next few mths to assess them

moy83

delaval wrote: »

Yes I see what your getting at, you're using for calf feeder.

The e tag was not the sample tag in my case. The test tags are weaker IMV so I won't be getting those with chip

On another matter what calf feeding system do you have?
Deffo our weakest element here. Numbers grew but calf facilities lagging behind.
I say a fabulous facility in Germany last week. It was an Aroof with no sides and igloo style hutches around the perimeter. I rate as the best I've ever seen. I intend visiting two more of these units over the next few mths to assess them

Those calf hutches are the business , I know a suckler lad here that has been using them for the past few years outside the slats in a fairly dry yard .
He has cut down on sniffles , scours and pneumonia and just has better thriving calves in general . He tried a few and now has enough for all his calves born when the cows are housed .
The odd calf needs a bit of education on how to go in out of the weather but they dont be long learning usually

eire 2012

On a separate note about tags they have to be the worst design of all time the tag that pierces the ear is at the back of the ear and button to the front surely the piercing tag should be on the front where everything is clearly visible.Maybe it's just me but think it would be easier to see what your doing with piercing tag at the front .

49801

eire 2012 wrote: »

Maybe it's just me but think it would be easier to see what your doing with piercing tag at the front .

Just u!!! :pac:

moy83

eire 2012 wrote: »

On a separate note about tags they have to be the worst design of all time the tag that pierces the ear is at the back of the ear and button to the front surely the piercing tag should be on the front where the veins are clearly visible.Maybe it's just me but think it would be easier to see what your doing with piercing tag at the front .

Its not you , I say it every time I tag a calf , sometimes I put them in backwards if its a wriggly calf .

Hugh 2

delaval wrote: »

The e tag was not the sample tag in my case. The test tags are weaker IMV so I won't be getting those with chip

Thanks

delaval wrote: »

On another matter what calf feeding system do you have?
Deffo our weakest element here. Numbers grew but calf facilities lagging behind.

In the same boat here regarding expansion.
We had a converted cubicle house with raised timber slats over where the cubicles were.(it with getting calves out asap worked ok for last 15 years)
The shi* hit the fan here as both Cripto and Roto arrived here this year and so the timber slats have been thrown out (reckon that the disinfecting qualities of the wood is now gone and that they will only harbour the bugs)

Looked at re roofing the shed and adjacent silage pit - but a green field shed would not be all that more expensive.

So at the moment we have no calf feeding facilities but plan in putting in a version of Förster Technik or Urban.

So am busy looking at houses and deciding on shed type etc

Hugh 2

moy83 wrote: »

Its not you , I say it every time I tag a calf , sometimes I put them in backwards if its a wriggly calf .

The first year I put the tags on from the front aiming between the veins/cartilage but found that lots got caught and pulled off.(especially the button ones)
Of course we since learnt to removing all bale twines and the like from gates:eek:

maxxuumman

Hugh 2 wrote: »

So at the moment we have no calf feeding facilities but plan in putting in a version of Förster Technik or Urban.
c

Does the Urban read the eids, I looked into this before and they didn't, they would only read the collars. That was a while back though, maybe different now.

Big fan of the eids, have been using them here now for 6-7 yrs now on the cows. never lost one and never fail to read. I use the blank button backs, go well into the ear with it and it will never fall out.

KatyMac

moy83 wrote: »

Its not you , I say it every time I tag a calf , sometimes I put them in backwards if its a wriggly calf .

Definitely not you! Don't know how many tags I've put in backwards!

Hugh 2

maxxuumman wrote: »

Does the Urban read the eids, I looked into this before and they didn't, they would only read the collars. That was a while back though, maybe different now.

.

Hi Maxxuumman
I have one sales man calling who sells A version of Förster Technik and Urban it was him that was telling me that almost everyone buying a new feeder are going for tags and he named a few lads on collars that have changes over last year or are doing so for the next year.(he never said I had to buy collars for either feeder)

maxxuumman wrote: »

Big fan of the eids, have been using them here now for 6-7 yrs now on the cows. Never lost one and never fail to read. I use the blank button backs, go well into the ear with it and it will never fall out.

And I thought they were new - do your blank button backs contain department no's or are they unique to you like freeze brands.(If so they could be a cheaper option for using up last years tags on bull calves)

Hugh 2

Hugh 2 wrote: »

Hi Maxxuumman
I have one sales man calling who sells A version of Förster Technik and Urban it was him that was telling me that almost everyone buying a new feeder are going for tags and he named a few lads on collars that have changes over last year or are doing so for the next year.(he never said I had to buy collars for either feeder)



And I thought they were new - do your blank button backs contain department no's or are they unique to you like freeze brands.(If so they could be a cheaper option for using up last years tags on bull calves)

Found out today that getting ELectronic tags from mullinahone to match last years left over ones is not as easy or as cheap as it should be.
I was quoted €5.30 plus vat for data tag (female) and than I would have buy a blank male to with that.
Replacement data tags are €4.49( includes vat and is complete front and back) but I can only buy these after the calves are registered- I am told there is no way out of it.
Anybody else after coming across this.

maxxuumman

Hugh, I use the EID button tags for the parlour. So the way I work it is the calf is tagged as usual with dept tags, then the winter before the heifer calves, I put on the button tag. The button tag has just a random 7 digit number, so in the computer for the parlour the 7 digit number is matched to the dept number. So from then on when dealing with the cow in the parlour, feeding, drafting, etc I am only working with the dept number.
This system means that, when the cows days are over, the button can be removed and put onto the next cow. The tags I am using are around that price, but doing it this way I can move the tag from cow to cow. I'm sure the calf feeders are the same, in that you can tie the EID number to the animal ID.
This system mightn't suit you.
http://www.mullinahonecoop.ie/catalog/partdetail.aspx?PartNo=ALL00037

Hugh 2

maxxuumman wrote: »

Hugh, I use the EID button tags for the parlour. So the way I work it is the calf is tagged as usual with dept tags, then the winter before the heifer calves, I put on the button tag. The button tag has just a random 7 digit number, so in the computer for the parlour the 7 digit number is matched to the dept number. So from then on when dealing with the cow in the parlour, feeding, drafting, etc I am only working with the dept number.
This system means that, when the cows days are over, the button can be removed and put onto the next cow. The tags I am using are around that price, but doing it this way I can move the tag from cow to cow. I'm sure the calf feeders are the same, in that you can tie the EID number to the animal ID.
This system mightn't suit you.
http://www.mullinahonecoop.ie/catalog/partdetail.aspx?PartNo=ALL00037

Thanks Maxxuumman I would say that is the tag that they wanted 5.30 plus vat for
I had just assumed that the you could pick your numbers to match official tag - so in my case (for feeding calves) I could use them + last years non electronic tags on the bull calves.
You are right I could also cut them off at sale and keep them as an emergency backup for the future.
Thats mighty.
Thanks

I am also wondering will you change to the new tags it only costs 1 euro more than just ordering the conventional tags.?

Phil Iam

delaval wrote: »

I used all e tags on heifer calved last year. Conventional on males.


Order half as d tags and half conventional

How can you chop and change which tags you use, shouldn't you use them in number order ?

whelan1

Phil Iam wrote: »

How can you chop and change which tags you use, shouldn't you use them in number order ?

dont think it makes any difference, i opened a box by mistake and had the tag in the calf before i realised. number was 70 away from where we where

Mulumpy

whelan1 wrote: »

dont think it makes any difference, i opened a box by mistake and had the tag in the calf before i realised. number was 70 away from where we where

Once you use all the tags allocated it doesn't matter. I keep all replacement heifer calves in numerical order and skip over and back around them.

Mulumpy

whelan1 wrote: »

dont think it makes any difference, i opened a box by mistake and had the tag in the calf before i realised. number was 70 away from where we where

Once you use all the tags allocated it doesn't matter. I keep all replacement heifer calves in numerical order and skip over and back around them.

Hugh 2

maxxuumman wrote: »

Does the Urban read the eids, I looked into this before and they didn't, they would only read the collars. That was a while back though, maybe different now.

Just thought I better check With the "urban "salesman and he confirmed today that they defiantly do read electronic tags

Hugh 2

I am mad as hell.
Ordered tags for the extra Euro each.
Tags arrived a few days later.
Put them away safely till needed.
Just got a email from Mullinahone entitled "Tag bucket"
Turned out to be a list of my tags(12 digit no) besides which was the 13 digit no of the EID's in the tags.
Maybe everyone knows this but I recon that Mullinahone should include the following warning.

Warning numbers on EID in no way corresponds with the identification no on the tag

I might have been naive but why cant the unique number of the EID be the same as the unique number of the calf tag????

mahoney_j

Registered on line with them Monday night and ordered some replacement tags,got text confirming despatch yesterday and delivered today.well impressed,took them long enough to come out of the dark ages though and set up on line.

grassroot1

I have to say the online system for ordering tags is bloody difficult to use

jomoloney

ordered next year's calf tags about 10 days back

just got e mail and tracking number, should have them in the morning

whelan1

grassroot1 wrote: »

I have to say the online system for ordering tags is bloody difficult to use

why? i found it excellent, anything is better than having to ring them

bogman_bass

eire 2012 wrote: »

.Maybe it's just me but think it would be easier to see what your doing with piercing tag at the front .

I agree 100%. the tip should be going inbetween the two veins on the inside of the ear. Bad design

Hugh 2

bogman_bass wrote: »

I agree 100%. The tip should be going inbetween the two veins on the inside of the ear. Bad design

The first year of this tagging system I tagged all calves from the front between the veins but lost a lot of tags as they were easier to get caught and pulled off.
Tagging from behind the next year resulted in almost no lost tags.
(Well that and the fact we stopped hanging bail twines on gates also helped:D)

Hugh 2

Anybody know if those EID tags need a special tagger??
Had a bit of a moment last night.
Boxes of new EID tags and could not put them on with either my yellow or red alflex taggers.
Tried an old aalliminium type tagger this morning and it did the job.
(the female part of tag that holds the data is fatter and newer tagger would not hold them inline with the needle)

Hugh 2

The adninistrator wont let me edit the last messege anymore so I am adding.


Foundout since that I probabbly am not far away from needing glasses all the time.
I NOW see that the yellow and black tagger has a removeable pice in the jaw so that it can hold the EID tags

Wildsurfer

Mulumpy wrote: »

Once you use all the tags allocated it doesn't matter. I keep all replacement heifer calves in numerical order and skip over and back around them.

Just got tag order letter for coming year getting me thinking about calving season already! Anyone else tag replacement heifers in one batch of numbers or would it get very messy keeping track of things? Also are EID tags the way to go, is it worth paying out on all tags when you only need them on say 20% ie the replacements? The thinking is to future proof the herd for auto calf feeding and cow drafting etc. Any vets using EID readers yet?

Farrell

Wildsurfer wrote: »

Just got tag order letter for coming year getting me thinking about calving season already! Anyone else tag replacement heifers in one batch of numbers or would it get very messy keeping track of things? Also are EID tags the way to go, is it worth paying out on all tags when you only need them on say 20% ie the replacements? The thinking is to future proof the herd for auto calf feeding and cow drafting etc. Any vets using EID readers yet?

Using EID here, have to take insert out of taggers when tagging due to size of button.
Local vet didn't have ability to read them earlier in the year.
Will be the future

Hugh 2

Farrell wrote: »

Will be the future

Not sure if in its current format it has any future
The no in the chip is a disgrace as it has nothing to do with the no displayed on the tag
Unless there is a data base that has all the eid no.s and tag no.s
If a vet has a wand without such a built in list he will only see the chip no and will have to ask you ( for example what animal had eid no 12468643575 )
When you order eid tags the chips are in sequential order but without a bucket list you have no way of knowing what to enter into calf feeder etc

Lambman

Sorry for bringing this old thread up we don't keep much cows now but old man ordered the eid tags and the won't fit into the blue taggers as there alot wider were the hole is... so I need new taggers or wat?

wiggy123

from what I am led to believe, new set of taggers will have to be got for them

Buford T. Justice XIX

Lambman wrote: »

Sorry for bringing this old thread up we don't keep much cows now but old man ordered the eid tags and the won't fit into the blue taggers as there alot wider were the hole is... so I need new taggers or wat?

Who did you order them from?

The Mullinahone ones have a plastic insert in the female part of the tagger that can be removed for their EID tags and replaced to use with the sample tags.

I haven't seen any blue taggers, tbh?

Lambman

This isn't the sample tag they work the same way as always but tho other tag has the eid button around the hole on female end and is 2 bulky till fit into our taggers

Buford T. Justice XIX

Lambman wrote: »

This isn't the sample tag they work the same way as always but tho other tag has the eid button around the hole on female end and is 2 bulky till fit into our taggers

There should be a plastic insert in that end of the tagger that the normal tag sits into, in the Mullinahone tagger anyway. If you fiddle around with it, you should be able to see the plastic part is separate to the metal handle and you should be able to take it out.



The black plastic piece there on the bottom is removable to use with EID tags.

TITANIUM.

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

There should be a plastic insert in that end of the tagger that the normal tag sits into, in the Mullinahone tagger anyway. If you fiddle around with it, you should be able to see the plastic part is separate to the metal handle and you should be able to take it out.



The black plastic piece there on the bottom is removable to use with EID tags.

Lord God were confusing me with all this tag talk. I (probably naively) thought we all used the same taggers. I use a red one like Buford posted above and a yellow one for the BVD and geno tags.
What's the story with these EID tags?

Buford T. Justice XIX

TITANIUM. wrote: »

Lord God were confusing me with all this tag talk. I (probably naively) thought we all used the same taggers. I use a red one like Buford posted above and a yellow one for the BVD and geno tags.
What's the story with these EID tags?

There's a bigger pod around the female tag that holds the electronic piece in the tag so it won't sit into the space under the clip. When you take out the plastic piece, it sits inside comfortably and the tagger work the same as normal then.

Lambman

Yea got it sorted... bit off a balls having till take out that clip and the pin when changing from sample tag in one ear and eid tag in the other.... we had an old pair off blue mullinahone taggers lying about so we just used them for the normal tags and kept the pin outta the new yellow taggers and used it for just sample tags.

Hugh 2

Have a yellow version of this tagger (cant find image of one)
The needle/pin can be removed quickly to insert the BVD tissue sampling tag
There is a black insert in the jaw that can be removed (not that easily) to fit the EID tags.

We just use 2 taggers here but if you are not tagging many and the bits are minded one of these taggers would do..

Lambman

Yea we always used 2 aswell the old blue ones for the normal tag and the yellow for sample tag b4 the old fella went and ordered eid tags now we need till get another set off yellow taggers till use 2...