Ear Tags??

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hntwhitetail

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Which ear tags are the best?  Allfex or Y-tex?  I use the Y-tex, but have been seeing some good deals on the Allflex.  Can you use the same tool for both?  Or would I have to buy a new Allflex tagger??  Thanks
 

Bulldaddy

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I have been using the Z Tags for about 15 years.  They are a one piece tag that is inexpensive, easy to apply and stay in the ear as well as any.  I have not had any ripped ears since switching to them. They do require a special gun to apply but you can get one free if you order enough tags.  You can find out more at this Valley Vet URL:  http://www.valleyvet.biz/ct_search_results.html?search=FAR006 

 

SouthWest

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Aug 18, 2008
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Check with Alflex rep, should have free printing on tags till end of the year if you order 100.  Besides number, I had name and cell number lazered on the front should one of them get out.
 

aandtcattle

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Hay Springs, Nebraska
For baby calves, I have used both but have switched exclusively to Y-tex for a lot of reasons. I love the piston action y-tex applicator it is very handy to use.  The neck of the tag is longer on the y-tex tags making hit hang down further from the ear thus making it easier to read.  I also like the way the y-tex tags hold ink a lot better than all-flex.  Ive been told you can use the same tagger for both brands of tags, you just have to change the button pin for each different kind of tag. 
As far as the z-tag, there are things I like about them.  The z-tag is quick and easy to put in, and very cheap but I have had issues with the tags breaking off at the neck (where the large part of the tag tapers to the narrow part going to the ear).  Also have had fading issues with the z-tag in less than a year after theyre put in.
For cows, I have been using the Ritchie Jumbo engraveable tags with y-tex buttons and have had excellent retention with them, and obviously, they never fade.  Between an engraveable tag, a tattoo and a freeze brand, I always know who "she" is. <cowboy>
 

LN

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We switched to Z tags a couple years ago and love them! We haven't had to replace a tag on a mature cow yet and have only lost one calf tag.
 

aandtcattle

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LN said:
We switched to Z tags a couple years ago and love them! We haven't had to replace a tag on a mature cow yet and have only lost one calf tag.
I can't argue with those kinds of results.  (thumbsup)  How many have you used?  Maybe I got a bad batch?  The worst ones were orange, what color(s) are you using?
 

kfacres

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Hands down, the best, CHEAPEST ear tags available come from hasco... http://www.hascotag.com/

They have a booth at Louisville, that we raid every year.  Last year, I picked up about 20 free blank cow sized, 10 black calf sized, and about 15 blank sheep sized ones for FREE.  They also have a discount rack of seconds (both numbered and blank), which most of the time are a little off color- or have numbers imprinted on the buttons- for about half cost.  Super great people to work with, and try to do anything to get us cheaper eartags.  I think it's a family owned business.

This year, while down there- we picked up 100 cow (40) and sheep (60) tags, for a grand total of $30- tax free- show discount- and no shipping.  We also pre-ordered 50 tags, and got the same discounted rates on them by picking them up at the show.  

In terms of retention- SUPER in the cattle-- Don't think I've ever had more than 2 or 3 fall out.  Really my only complaint with them is using the extra large, cattle tags on my sheep-- and the tags are simply too heavy and get ripped out.. Course, that's not the tag's fault.. It's mine for choosing to use them.. Risk I'm forced to take... but with my 4 tag; tagging system (plus ear tattoo), what's one more tag?  And with my bad eyes, as big as the tags can be- is a plus...  I really like their blank tags- use a marker and get plenty of black ink on there (double dose on each number)- and you'll never not be able to read it.. unless the Ytex tags which fade after about 5 years.  To tell the truth, I've only used a few of their prenumbered tags, and after 10 years I think you'll still be able to read them, unlike some brands.

Now, the other complaint that some people have- is that the buttons are not self piercing-- which to me I prefer; as I'm often tired of having older buttons which get weak, and the pin pushes it to the side, and so you don't actually pierce the ear, but just bloody it up... I prefer these over any other kind of button...  The only extra cost, would be a sharp pin to purchase and put on any Ytex, or Allflex tagger that you have.  

Highly recommend them.

In regards to other tags, we've used Ztags, Allflex, YTex, you name, it we've tried it.  After several years, it seems that we have a complete makeover with the cowherd's tags...  I did like the Ztags- but my applicator pin rusted like an SOB; and so it didn't work right, Can't complain about them though... Even though I feel as if they tag working around made a slightly larger than normal hole in the ear. 

Att his stage of the game, we're going 100% Hasco until they change something on us, and it becomes more expensive to use them...  The crazy low cost is something that using an extra one here or there can be tollerated...  Even though it's not happend. 
 

aandtcattle

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Those hasco tags look like good tags, especially for calves but I'm not sure they would be big enough for me on cows.  The way I read it, their largest tag is only 1 3/4 inches high, thats not very big.
 

kfacres

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Here are some shots of the Hasco tags in a real life situation.. These are blank tags, that have been in these ewe lambs for about a year or so.  
http://www.freewebs.com/showsheep/apps/photos/album?albumid=11119907

Disregard the ram lamb photos shown first-- they don't have large tags in them.  

1 3/4, is not the largest tag...http://www.hascotag.com/livestock.php  

Style 402- shows a red tag- this is the cow sized tag.. about 2/3 or 3/4 of the way down.

ETA- these pics would also show a wide variety of the colors, and how the contrast will work with a black marker.. Some obviously are better than others... From a personal standpoint, white tags of any color collect too much mud for me- and some of the purples, dark blues, and greens don't show black marker as well as others.

This can also show our 4 tag system.

I don't have any cow pictures availble online to show- but if you'd like to see some I can get some. 
 

kfacres

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In terms of tag construction.. I believe these tags have more depth to them, by being wider constructed than other tags...  I've had plenty of Y- tex tags, that after awhile, want to fold up on me-- I've never had any of these do that.. They are tough to bend, seriously.  They also don't have that stupid little black circle in the female recepter that either screws things up- gets lost- or just plain gets in the way.  The fatter eartag, also IMO- leads me to think that that the neck of the tag being harder to break, and lost (which I have seen in the Ytex).  

Size wise, the actual facial size is the same as any other extra large cattle tag.

I'm sold on them...

Now, my grandparent's they're still stuck on the Ytex tags, and even special order them to be numbered on both sides for easy reading...  One of these days they'll regret that...  My uncle refuses to tag heifer calves anymore, and waits to tag them until breeding, b/c they'll just loose the tag anyways by the time they have a calf...

 

hntwhitetail

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Thanks for the info.  So what pin do I need to have installed for my y-tex tagger?  Also, which marker was the longest lasting that you have used?

I too have also seen problems of using the marker on both sides of the y-tex tag, seems after a few years the back will bleed thru to the front distorting the front numbering system.    
 

kfacres

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hntwhitetail said:
Thanks for the info.  So what pin do I need to have installed for my y-tex tagger?  Also, which marker was the longest lasting that you have used?

I too have also seen problems of using the marker on both sides of the y-tex tag, seems after a few years the back will bleed thru to the front distorting the front numbering system.    

You can use any sharp tipped appicator pin- as far as I know http://www.hascotag.com/accessories.php.  I've even been able to use certain blunt tipped pins with them.  To be honest, my pins came from the following link...http://www.allflexusa.com/visual/applicators.php
The second applicator down-- blue retract o matic...  It came with one installed sharp point, and one spare...  Simple to change...  (this also proves that at one point in time, we used Alflex eartags that were open buttoned, and had to buy an applicator with them)  I really liked this applicator, but after a while, it become worn out and broke.

I have several of the red plain jane applicator guns, like is pictured first.  I have used them before with the open tipped buttons, but dont' reccomend it for more than one or two when the applicator is handy.  We get them free when we order scrapie tags.  One applicator with every order.. so we've got tons of them...  The best tag marking pen that I have found, also comes from this site-- Ytex, but the hasco one is ok.. I use it for fine tuned writing.  I've found it's not as long lasting, and not as dark with two passes, as the Ytex pens are. 

You cannot use the super blunt, Y tex applicator pins with the open tipped buttons.  Like this: http://y-tex.com/acc.php  (BLUE ONE- or black if you have an old one).  I've actually got a super old applicator of this style that I LOVE>  it's made from cast steal, is orange in color, and has grip on the handles.. I love it.. Just replaced the blunt pin, with a sharp one.. and boy does it work great. 
 

kfacres

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o ya, one more thing I forgot...  We use neon green and purple tags on our sheep, and I have found that with some colors of tags (super light, and neon colored), if you get a super dark number wrote on them, the ink can fade through the other side...  I don't write on both sides, so it doesn't bother me.. But this only occurs in some colors.  I think the orange might as well, but don't remember for sure.. I know blue, red, purple, and white do not...

I've also found that some of the second tags we pick up on the discount shelf, do fade some, and the ink will bleed... but then again, that's why they're on the seconds shelf, and that's why they're cheap...

It seems the darker and more long lasting your tag marking pen is, the greater chance of it bleeding through.. catch 22... I guess.
 

daketyji

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May 23, 2020
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