National Genotyping Programme

I'm in it because I'm part time. Was genotyping anyway as would have a good few pedigree animals. So now they are all done when being tagged so no need to be taking samples a few months down the line for Society or whatever DAFM scheme they concoct. It just lightens my workload slightly

You'll have to order the button tags yourself from your tag supplier for whatever numbers you have remaining.

For the first few of mine I attached the button tag to one ear and one of the normal tags to the other ear. I snipped off the button tags then when dehorning and replaced with the other large tag. Great job or so I thought!

Had a re-weighing check from the RVO with a vet in attendance and he went around looking to see if the ones that were supposed to have 3 tags actually did have 3 tags. Had to tell him they were all after falling off and they were the worst tags ever made. I probably got away with it because 1 calf had a ripped ear because he had got the button tag caught in a gate.

It's not as if you can fool the system when every animal in the herd is already DNA tested.