Yes, from 1st July 2022 all calves born must be tagged with a white electronic and yellow tissue tag set.

No, our universal applicator which you have from us, applies the new electronic tag sets.

Yes, it is a legal requirement to replace a lost electronic tag set with another electronic tag set, similar if you lost a single electronic tag, you must replace it with a single electronic tag.

No, all approved suppliers work from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) AIM database.

Regardless of which supplier you use, the DAFM will issue the same tag numbers automatically.

No, our tag application method is different, and we would ask you to carefully read through our instructions and guides before proceeding to tag.

Please see "How to Apply Tags" Video for detailed instructions.

No, our Universal Applicator allows you to apply both Electronic tags and Tissue Tags sets without modification as demonstrated in our Tag Fitting Guides and Videos.

All new sets of calf tag runs will require the purchase of our Universal Applicator at €25.95.

If your individual requirement for speed of application or convenience for loading tags, you can convert your old applicator to a visual tag applicator with a change of pin and use our Universal Applicator to apply the tissue tag.

• Our Universal Applicator will apply both ear tags without any changes or modification.
• Can be used with both Cattle and Sheep Tags

No, the red top is used as an indicator that this side should always be at the back of the calf’s ear as demonstrated in our Tag Fitting Guides and Videos.

If you do not have our Universal Applicator, but have an Allflex® applicator; a special Applicator Pin can be inserted into the Allflex® applicator allowing you to apply specific tags using the Allflex® applicator

Please note that this applies to:

• Electronic Tags
• Replacement Tags

You WILL require our Universal Applicator to apply any of our Tissue Tag sets or Replacement Tissue Tags.

Yes, we can supply all of your replacement tag needs.

This includes the following replacement tags

• Tags issued since Nov 16
• Tags issued between 1999-2016
• Tags issued before 1999
• • Any tags on imported animals.

Labs that are currently approved for testing our tags include:

• Agri Diagnostics Dunrine, Killarney, Co. Kerry.
• Animal Health Laboratories Shinagh House, Bandon, Co. Cork. 023-8854-100.
• Independent Milk Laboratories Shercock Road, Bailieborough, Co. Cavan. 042-9675-353.
• Enfer Labs Unit T, M7 Business Park, Newhall, Naas, Co Kildare.
• Farm Lab Diagnostics Emlagh, Elphin, Co. Roscommon.
• FBA Laboratories Ltd Carrigeen Industrial Estate, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford.
• Scottish Agricultural College SAC Veterinary Services, Greycrook, St Boswells, Melrose, Roxburghshire, Scotland TD6 0EQ

Please check Animal Health Ireland (AHI) if the lab you use is not currently listed here or give your lab a call to inquire. As labs are approved by AHI, they will be added to this list.

The tag is supplied with desiccant (little white balls within the sample tube) to assist preserve the sample.

Best practice guidelines state that the sample should be kept at room temperature before posting to lab within 7 days.

Ensure that the male cutter is attached to the tip of the male tag when applying the tissue tag and it should then be closed in one swift straight-line action.

The cutter cuts a clean piece of tissue from the calf and then automatically seals the tube airtight with the sample inside.

Please see "How to Apply Tags" Video for detailed instructions.

Please contact us and order a supplementary button tag in order to collect a second piece of tissue for BVD testing.

All sheep must be tagged before they reach 9 months of age or before they leave the holding.

All lambs moving directly to factory must be tagged with an offical yellow single electronic tag which should be placed in the lamb's right ear before it leaves the holding.

All sheep going to farm to farm, mart, export or breeding must be identified with a full electronic tag set. i.e Conventional tag in the left ear and a matching electronic tag in the right ear.

Sheep imported from within the EU and from Northern Ireland must retain the original electronic tag set inserted in their country of origin. Must not remove tags from imported sheep.

If you require further offical sheep identification queries

• Phone: 01 5058833
• Email: sheepid@agriculture.gov.ie

All goats must be tagged before they reach 9 months of age or before they leave the holding.

All goats must be identified with a matching set of official NGID conventional tags, one in each ear.

Goats being exported must be identified with a full offical electronic tag set. One conventional tag in the left ear and a matching electronic tag in the right ear.

You must apply to the DAFM and obatin a pig registration number before keeping any pigs.

Yes, you must have you pig herd registered with the National Pig Identificationa and Tracing System (NPITS).

All breeding pigs must be identified with an approved green eartag bearing the letters IE, pig herd registration and an individual animal number.

All non- breeding pigs on your holding must be identified as they leave the holding depending on where they are going;

1. Pigs going to the factory must be identified wiht a slap marked dispalying their herd number,
2. Pigs moving directly to another holding must be identified with an official green ear tag in the left ear
3. Pigs moving to a sccond holding must be identified with a second offical green ear tag displaying the herd number of the holding they are being moved from.

All pigs must be tagged moving between units even if the units are owned by the same individual.

Apply to DAFM for approval to operate a closed integrated unit, whre pigs moving from listed connected holdings can be identified with a slapmark on movement within those holdings.

Further offical pig identification queries

• Phone: 01 5058881
• Email: pigid@agriculture.gov.ie