Fly Tags: Would This work?

[Chuckie]

Yep, I am here to ask a newbie question....If I were to attach necklaces or chain collars on my cows, and attach the fly tags to the necklace, say opposite side of the other, is there going to be enough action of the cow swinging her head around to help get the tag medication where it needs to be. It would be nice if I could attach it to their tail :lol2: but that is out because one of my cows is chewing the tails off the ones that will let them. I can see that #333 (Devil Child as the vet calls her) still has a beautiful tail and so do both of her daughters. She is a good cow, but thinking she will get her ears tagged again makes her go nuts. Me too.

I hate tagging big cows ears, as it is painful and another problem is the strength in my hands. I would just like to do the necklace deal if it would work.
Anyone tried this before?

 

[wbvs58]

Suzanne, you could give it a go but I would be keeping a close eye on the skin around the neck as the chemical impregnated tag may cause irritation held directly against the skin. Can't you pick up the old hole from last year rather than make a new one?
Ken

 

[JW IN VA]

You might want to look at PHWhite website.Their back rubs work great.

 

[bse]

Not sure if they would help the situation, I put the Y Tex fly strips on mine yesterday, they just go on the back button of the tag just like a button on a shirt. Easy to put on, not sure how long they will work but no flies today.

 

[gizmom]

I would go with rubs over the necklace idea. If you set the rub up near a loafing area or where they have to go under it to get water they work really well.

gizmom

 

[boondocks]

Not sure if they would help the situation, I put the Y Tex fly strips on mine yesterday, they just go on the back button of the tag just like a button on a shirt. Easy to put on, not sure how long they will work but no flies today.

BSE--I was planning to do ear tags for the first time this year; our flies just arrived yesterday (winter ran late up here!). I didn't know there was a product you could put on the back of their existing (number) tag. Do you have to take it off, and switch out the meds next year? I have heard you need to "switch up" the fly meds from time to time?

Would appreciate your thoughts on how the product is working over the next week or two--either here or by PM.
Thanks!

 

[branguscowgirl]

My sister ties the fly tags in the fore locks and manes of her horses. So I do not know why the "necklaces" wouldn't work just fine Chuckie.

 

[Gerard Dawn]

When it comes to getting rid of flies I've always used fly tags, it's working will so far.

 

[prairietrail45]

I would be concerned about the cows catching the collars on the fence, trees, etc. and not being able to free themselves or worse yet, getting a hoof in the collar when they itch themselves. If you do it, I would make sure the collars are somehow break able in case they do catch it on anything.

As expensive as fly tags are, I would want to make sure they were on the cow in a way that they would for sure work. I just fly tagged most of mine, most of them needed new number tags since I had not tagged them since I bought them so I cut out the old tags, added a new number tag in one existing hole, put a fly tag in an existing hole on the other side and only had to add one new hole on the side with the number tag. Next year I will only have to cut out the old fly tags and reapply in the existing holes. I don't like tagging either, but if it means keeping flies off their faces and helping to prevent pinkeye I will do it. All of the cows with the fly tags don't have a single fly on them, they were also poured at the same time and they can graze all day without swatting flies.

 

[Chuckie]

prairietrail, I can understand your worry about that. I have electric fences, but there are trees out in the pasture with branches and such. I notice that they often keep necklaces on dairy cows, but they make a plastic one I suppose that would break if they got in a fix.

Ken, I didn't think about that.

I have used a fly rub every year, but I sense that these tags might be a bit systemic as when I used them before, the flies didn't cover the underneath of their bellies when I used them. They were much more successful than the fly rub. I have the fly rub up.

I guess I am going to have to chain put the pinchers in their nose, but I am going to need to get a second person on this to help. I like it when I can do everything as a one man band, but my hands will go out after a few cows. I hate that as they used to be very strong hands and I could squeeze hands as hard as a person that milked several cows a day. I still can occasionally, but after that, then they are gone.

OK, no one else has ever done it and proved that it worked so I will just go back to the ears. I just had to ask and I thank everyone who threw their kind two cents worth in and didn't make fun of me as I am so fragile. :lol2: :roll: