What equipment do I need to start with?

Lets start with the basics - you have gone to a lot of time and trouble and spent a lot of money purchasing your electronic ear tags, but how do I read them? Probably the best method of reading tags is to use a Stick reader. Some have started out using a Panel Reader, such as the one below but were disappointed with the result. The panel type reader is in use on many dairy and beef properties, and at first glance may be the obvious choice if you are also running sheep.

Chances are (if you have struck trouble) is that there are too many moving parts in conventional scales, such as the scales below, which confuses the reader, in turn resulting in long delays (up to 30 seconds) before the tag number appears in your newly purchased database. If you look carefully, you will be able to identify many moving parts - the two bars across the top of the cage that open and shut the front gates, the front and rear gates themselves, along with the numerous other bits and pieces that move each time an animal enters or leaves the scales.

We have heard of some producers taking to their scales with an angle grinder, replacing one side with wooden components, and even wire netting. If you place a panel reader inside the scales as they are above, in all likelihood it will not work - no matter how carefully you 'tune' the panel reader to that particular set of scales.Use the scales to weigh the animals, but to read the tags DbSSS has found it is much better to use a Stick Reader such as the Allflex model below:

There has to be an operator standing adjacent to the scales to open and shut the gates, so it is relativly easy for that person to point the stick reader within a few inches of the sheep's ear as the animal enters the scales. Using a stick reader, we have achieved through rates of six sheep a minute if the sheep are moving well. This is sufficient time for the computer operator to enter the weight of the animal into the database. If you are also entering other information into the database, such as fat depth or eye muscle depth, the throughput of animals over the scales will be reduced. Our Data-based SheepTrack™ database brings up the information relating to the animal in less than a second, the speed of the computer and flow of the sheep being used being the main determining factor.

General tips:

When shearing, it is very important to advise the contractor you have electronic tags inserted in the sheeps’ ears, and ask that special care be taken. Often the button stem can be cut by a shearer, but not detected, and because of grease build up etc, the tag can remain stuck to the ear of the sheep, which they shake off in the let-go pens, or further out in the yards or even out in the paddock. This is another reason why it is recommended both electronic and conventional tags are used. If the electronic tag is lost, the sheep in question can still be recalled in Data-based SheepTrack™ by typing in the number from the conventional tag. We suggest placing the electronic tag in the left ear if most shearers are right handed, and in the right ear if most shearers are left handed. We have never lost an electronic tag on a sheep apart from at shearing time. When you are using electronic tags for the first time, let your shearers know, and ask them to be very careful when shearing around the ears. Also, after you have counted out the sheep in the 'let-go' pens, check the ground looking for buttons or tags, and you should be able to identify any shearer cutting the tag button stems.

DbSSS suggests when ordering EID's, you do not prefix the number on the electronic TAGS with the year (such as 2345). As the tags are re-usable, it is better to have a number like 2345 printed on the tag BUTTON, as DbSSS generates the year of the drop for each tag in the Data-based SheepTrack bucket file if you request it. Thus the tag number can then be made to come up in Data-based SheepTrack™ as 2345 in 2012, 3345 in 2013 etc.

At marking time, if you are inserting both conventional and electronic tags, you must stay on the ball to ensure that the two tags have the same numbers in the same animal. eg in 2012 electronic tag number button 2248 placed in one ear has, say, conventional tag 2248 in the opposite ear. The electronic tag, and its corresponding tag button and conventional tag are placed side by side in a plastic tray. If labour permits, you may find it easier to have one person inserting the electronic tags, and another person inserting the conventional tags, with each person constantly checking what tag the other person is about to insert. (This is just one reason for having the numbers on the electronic tag buttons as large and readable as possible, as you both may be several cradles apart.). If you make an error, simply remove both tags from the lamb and re-tag it.You may like to keep the tags discarded in a separate tin, and enter ‘Tag not used’ in the 100 day weigh-in form at a later date, or use the Classing form and assign ‘Tag not used’ from the drop-down list (if you have requested it be included in the list). Thus the animal with that supposed number will be accounted for, but excluded in your mating group results.

The electronic tags may have a long electronic identification number, but ignore this, as this number is used electronically when DbSSS scans the tag when re-creating the new bucket file and is only used for electronic retrieval purposes. As previously stated, DbSSS recommends using both electronic and conventional tags – it may take a little longer at marking time, but well worthwhile if an animal loses a tag out of one ear as you have the other tag remaining to identify the animal. It may sound difficult, but it doesn’t take long to get into the swing of it.

Just two of the different types of tags available.

Leader Product tags above with numbers printed on the electronic tags.

Allflex Tags and buttons above with one set loaded into applicator – in this case the tag number is printed on the green button.

The above photo illustrates how to insert (in this example Allflex) electronic tags. In the photo, the numbered button is already inside the blue end of the applicator, held in place by a pin in the applicator, running through the button centre, and the electronic tag with the flat side of the tag facing against the inside face of the ear, ready to be inserted low down inside the middle of the ear. The electronic tag is held in place with a small spring loaded clip. Slide the applicator over the ear and press the trigger on the handle. When the sheep has been tagged, the applicator is simply pulled sideways away from the ear, ready for reloading. With Allflex tags, ensure the numbered tag button is placed on top of the ear, and the electronic tag on the inside of the ear. With Leader Product tags, follow the instructions of the manufacturer as their numbered electronic tags may have to be placed on the top (outside) of the ear.

This photo shows an Allflex tag properly in place (with the ear turned inside out for illustration purposes) with the tag placed low down in the middle of the ear, avoiding the veins that tend to run along the side of the ear. Note again that the flat side of the tag is lying against the inside surface of the ear. Infection control is very important. Always have a bucket of clean water with a few caps of Dettol mixed in as per instructions on the bottle, and set the equipment for example on a clean towel on the back of a vehicle tray. Tag manufacturers recommend dipping both tag applicators in the Dettol, (with tags already in the applicators) each time before the tags are inserted. This set-up below also helps set both types of tags out in proper numerical order, assisting synchronisation of the same tag numbers going into each animal.

Allflex staff have spent many hours assisting DbSSS setting up Data-based SheepTrack™ for electronic identification of animals, for which we are very grateful.

One last tip – try and get a clean muster for the first 100 day weigh-in, as the classing (400 day) growth rate is derived from this first 100 day weight. If an animal misses the 100 day muster, its classing growth rate will show up as zero.

Data-based SheepTrack™ has been developed over more than twenty years in response to the continually changing needs of Keri-Keri Station, a large Western Riverina merino stud near Balranald, NSW. Data-based SheepTrack™ has been created in Australia for use in the toughest conditions.

Data-based SheepTrack™ is also available in a version to capture data from a commercial ewe flock, as distinct from a ram flock. If you are electronically tagging ewes, simply add their tags when requesting the new bucket file prior to marking. There is provision to delete ewes from the database that have been cast for age etc, and for new ewes added that are being incorporated into the flock. The electronic tags in this case stay with the ewe for its duration in the flock, and the age of each animal can be quickly determined by the colour of the button in the tag.

DbSSS believes that providing a service-based approach to software, rather than selling a programme off the shelf, relieves the producer of many of the more complex tasks in relation to electronic tracking of sheep. Some of these complex operations are difficult to remember and are only performed once a year. The DbSSS system takes care of this for you at a very moderate cost.

We know you will enjoy using Data-based SheepTrack™ as you become familiar with it, and hope that you make the most of what it has to offer. We welcome and appreciate any feedback about our product and we strongly recommend Allflex electronic tags and readers.