Ear tag crust

[jdcopkid]

3 week old ear tags have some crust/scabbing coming out of the back of the ear tag. They are insecticide tags. They don’t act like the ear hurts when I mess with it unless I get a crust or scab that is still attached to their skin. I’m guessing I need to cut them off and spray some antiseptic?

 

[Travlr]

3 week old ear tags have some crust/scabbing coming out of the back of the ear tag. They are insecticide tags. They don't act like the ear hurts when I mess with it unless I get a crust or scab that is still attached to their skin. I'm guessing I need to cut them off and spray some antiseptic?

I think you need to relax a little. Kick back and don't drink anything with caffeine in it, and maybe get a good nights sleep.

 

[jdcopkid]

I think you need to relax a little. Kick back and don't drink anything with caffeine in it, and maybe get a good nights sleep.

I’ve had so many issues in the 6 weeks I’ve had these calves… yes I may be watching every little thing. Trying to learn what’s a problem and what’s normal.

 

[Lucky]

I see the same thing sometimes on cows that have the two piece tags. It can get pretty bad sometimes too. I'd just watch em for a week or so. We use one piece z-tags and have never had this issue, we don’t use fly tags. In my opinion a cheap pour on wormer is more effective than fly tags.

 

[farmerjan]

3 week old ear tags have some crust/scabbing coming out of the back of the ear tag. They are insecticide tags. They don't act like the ear hurts when I mess with it unless I get a crust or scab that is still attached to their skin. I'm guessing I need to cut them off and spray some antiseptic?

Just spray a little blue kote or other antiseptic and leave the ear tags in place.

Reread @Travlr post and apply as needed.....

 

[Mrcopier]

I agree with travlr it’s all good. If that’s all you have to deal with like travlr said sleep well

 

[wobbie1775]

I've had so many issues in the 6 weeks I've had these calves… yes I may be watching every little thing. Trying to learn what's a problem and what's normal.

Im with @Travlr on this one . I think these critters can do way more than we give them credit for. Keep an eye on them, but don't look too hard or you will find things. These calves are strong and hardy animals.

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

How do you cut ear tags off? Two of my 3 heifers came from a dairy and numbered tags on a pretty Jersey face to me are ugly and distracting. And no they are not registration tags.

 

[moses388]

How do you cut ear tags off? Two of my 3 heifers came from a dairy and numbered tags on a pretty Jersey face to me are ugly and distracting. And no they are not registration tags.

Try side cutting pliers.

 

[jdcopkid]

How do you cut ear tags off? Two of my 3 heifers came from a dairy and numbered tags on a pretty Jersey face to me are ugly and distracting. And no they are not registration tags.

I was going to use this

 

[jdcopkid]

Im with @Travlr on this one . I think these critters can do way more than we give them credit for. Keep an eye on them, but don't look too hard or you will find things. These calves are strong and hardy animals.

Man they seem anything but strong so far . My dad didn’t notice one was sick 2 days before she died, so now every time I’m out there I’m doing a head to toe assessment. I make sure I see every one of them stand up, I look for diarrhea, I check their nose for drainage while they’re stuffing their face in the trough etc haha

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

I'm not buying a special instrument for 2 calves. How about using nippers the kind that are for trimming twigs?

In your photos is that some kind of barn or building in the background?

You would make a good nurse.

 

[Brute 23]

I'm not buying a special instrument for 2 calves. How about using nippers the kind that are for trimming twigs?

In your photos is that some kind of barn or building in the background?

You would make a good nurse.

 

[jdcopkid]

I'm not buying a special instrument for 2 calves. How about using nippers the kind that are for trimming twigs?

In your photos is that some kind of barn or building in the background?

You would make a good nurse.

Yea it’s a little shelter/barn we built years ago to keep them out of the elements during the winter. Doesn’t have much airflow though so in the summer it’s just a hot box and we block them from getting in there unless there’s a storm.

Haha well, I did happen to be a nurse a few years ago.

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

I knew it!

 

[Mark Reynolds]

I was going to use this

Well, those work, and they are fast, but unless you are going to be removing more than a couple dozen tags per year for multiple years, it's not gonna pay for itself.

 

[wbvs58]

Man they seem anything but strong so far . My dad didn't notice one was sick 2 days before she died, so now every time I'm out there I'm doing a head to toe assessment. I make sure I see every one of them stand up, I look for diarrhea, I check their nose for drainage while they're stuffing their face in the trough etc haha

If they are eating they are not dying.
I think you posted about a bit of ringworm yesterday so that scabbing could be a bit of fungus where the tag is rubbing the skin.

Ken

 

[Travlr]

I'm not buying a special instrument for 2 calves. How about using nippers the kind that are for trimming twigs?

In your photos is that some kind of barn or building in the background?

You would make a good nurse.

Sharp pocket knife, one handed, just slip the blade under close to the post with your thumb on the other side and twist so the blade cuts through.

 

[TCRanch]

Well, those work, and they are fast, but unless you are going to be removing more than a couple dozen tags per year for multiple years, it's not gonna pay for itself.

They're all of $7.00. Edit: they're all of $7.00 at Valley Vet and my local Co-Op. The one posted in the pic is $7.99.

 

[farmerjan]

They're all of $7.00. Edit: they're all of $7.00 at Valley Vet and my local Co-Op. The one posted in the pic is $7.99.

And there is next to no chance of cutting anything but the post on the tag. A knife blade can slip if they jerk... probably never happen but it can. I have done things over the years as cheaply as possible when getting started... but for pete's sake... $8.00 ......?????