Recommendations for ear tags & thoughts on weaning with plastic nose preventers

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Find a true feed store or co-op and ask them about ordering double sided printed tags. They come like 25 per pack and last way longer than the ones on the shelf.

You can also get some with initials or a brand and add your phone number.

Put the brand tag with phone number in one one ear and the number tag in the other.

I've been running the printed, one piece, Z-tags for a good whole now with no issues, even in the brush. They stay just as good as the two piece.

You may want to add a general location to your profile so you can can area specific recommendations.
 
Find a true feed store or co-op and ask them about ordering double sided printed tags. They come like 25 per pack and last way longer than the ones on the shelf.

You can also get some with initials or a brand and add your phone number.

Put the brand tag with phone number in one one ear and the number tag in the other.

I've been running the printed, one piece, Z-tags for a good whole now with no issues, even in the brush. They stay just as good as the two piece.

You may want to add a general location to your profile so you can can area specific recommendations.
Thanks. And added my location.
 
I haven't used the nose/can't suck but I have a good cattleman friend that does use them. He thinks they work really well. For him, it reduces the stress, but he uses them for a couple weeks, then separates them from dams.
I fence-line wean, so there is less stress in this system also. I do not know how successful they are to use for complete weaning.
 
I haven't used the nose/can't suck but I have a good cattleman friend that does use them. He thinks they work really well. For him, it reduces the stress, but he uses them for a couple weeks, then separates them from dams.
I fence-line wean, so there is less stress in this system also. I do not know how successful they are to use for complete weaning.
Thanks, and I was planning on two phase weaning - using the flaps first week or so, then separating.
 
I'm a big believer in just ripping the bandaid off. 48 hours and it's over. Why stretch it out.
with regards to tags, for replacement heifers I like the engraveable tags from Ritchie. I got tired of faded tags and I don't want random numbers on tags so it's win win. Steers get cheap one piece feedlot Z-tags. Don't need to worry about those fading.
 
I always preferred Allflex tags but local stores all switched to Y-Tex tags. I used them for years but noticed they did fade worse. Switched to ritchey engraved tags and am pleased. Just remember to order tag backs separately!
No help on weaning flaps. Sorry.
 
I agree with ripping the bandaid off at weaning. I have not had any luck fence line weaning either. I wean them and haul them clear off that place or send the cows to a pasture where they can't see or hear the calves.

If I wean a calves and get them away from the mommas, they are on feed with in 24hrs and they are forming their own herd. If I leave the cows where the calves can see them, they will beller at each other and walk the fence lines for days.

We wean them at around 6-8mo and they are usually broke to feed bunks and tubs by weaning.
 
We've always used store bought z tags and had good luck with them but they do fade. Switched to blank z tags with a marker last year. Got too hard to keep consecutive numbers when culling cows. We also went to one in each ear.
 
I use the Can't Suck weaning tabs when pulling off the bull calves because I wean them a couple weeks before the general population. There are usually only 20-25 of them, so we gather and sort them run them through the chute and tab them. Then pull them and take them home a week later. Maybe a half day bawling and go right to eating out of bale feeders in the pen. It really takes the stress out of weaning. I don't bother with the rest of them because there are too many. We wean on the weekend, weigh everything Sunday for records, sort the replacement heifers off and haul the rest to the sale barn for the Monday calf special as bawlers. The replacement heifers bawl for a couple days then quiet down. The bull calves sell as yearlings for $4000 and up, so it's worth it to ease them into weaning with the nose tabs.
 
We use quiet wean flaps with great success. We also wean by the signs as much as possible. It makes a big difference for us in weaning stress and weaning weight loss. We put the flaps on for 3-5 days (7 max or their noses get pretty sore inside) then separate. By doing it this way for us we have no real balling from the calves. Usually just the cows when their udders fill but they stay out on pasture with their calves during that time. They continue caring for them which seems to help the calves. Once separated the calves go right to eating with no balling. We keep them in a separate pasture for a few months then put them back with the herd. We do have a few here and there that loose a flap or figure out how to outsmart one but we have such good results with using them we feel they are worth it. A few balling usually stop pretty quickly when all the other calves go about their day without stressing.
For the cows we use Ritchey ear tags that we engrave with a hand Dremel. For calves just 2 piece tags that we can write on.
 
For the cows we use Ritchey ear tags that we engrave with a hand Dremel.
How is the retention on those tags? I am planning on switching to these as most of the other brands have failed after a few years or become too faded. My really old cows mostly have their original tags. They just made them better a decade ago it seems.
 
I went to ordering tags with my name and phone number printed across the bottom. It is kind of small print but it is obviously there. I just got a cow back on Sunday that came in with somebody else's cows 15 miles from here. I seem to have one or two do that every year. They are all branded but a lot easier for someone to get in touch with me with my number on the tag. And it is a two way street. I have stray cows show up here every year. Some take research to figure out who they belong to.
 
It is a pain, but, you should WASH your blank tags with a degreeser like Dawn. They have a light coating that prevents the ink from etching into the plastic.
Didn't seem to be a problem years ago, but definitely makes a difference now.
I use Permaflex (about same as Allflex but cheaper). I use Allflex buttons. I have 15 yr old cows with perfectly readible ink.
 
I order engraved Ritchie tags for the yearling heifers and put them in before turnout. Also freeze brand all yearling heifers. The Ritchie tags have our brand and ranch name on the tag above the number. If they lose a tag, then they get a Dremel engraved replacement. A few are running around with a yellow Allflex calf tag because that was what was on hand last time we worked them.
 
I have better luck with one piece instead of the two piece with the buttons. No experience with the engraved ones but #'s fade eventually regardless.
 
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