Ear Tag Loss and Retention - How Does your Herd Compare?
Ear tags underpin livestock identification systems, governed by regulations to ensure consistency. Distinguished from other forms of identifier by their versatility, ear tags: inform disease control, support on-farm decision-making and enable data transfer across supply chains. Lost tags put the performance of these systems at risk, as well as being an annual reoccurring cost to livestock farmers. As autumn traditionally sees an increase in handling and movements of beef cattle, it’s timely to ask: ‘how do my tag losses compare to other herds?’
New research from SRUC, gathered as part of the 'Sheep and Cattle traceability: the impact of environmental and other factors in Scotland on ear tag loss project', has highlighted variation in on-farm ear tag replacement rates. In a recent survey of 100 livestock keepers from across Scotland, respondents reported an average tag replacement rate in their adult beef cattle of just over 4% per year. There was, however, variation within herds. For example, higher rates of replacement were reported for suckler cows and breeding cattle compared with growing cattle. And there was variation between herds, with the highest loss rates being reported by smaller herds, some respondents were achieving lower than average replacement rates while others reported higher, sometimes much higher rates of replacement in their herds. Of concern, some reported that these loss rates were typical of previous years suggesting that they may have become normalised. This is costly for producers and has implications for the welfare of stock.
Rates of ear tag loss and retention are a function of tag type, application, stock type and farming enterprise. As the decision-maker, we see the livestock keeper as central to this process with the overarching regulatory requirements providing the operating context, as illustrated.
Tag Type:
There are almost 20, PAS-approved suppliers of cattle ear tags to the UK market. Between them, they produce a range of some 75 Primary and 145 Secondary cattle tags, offering livestock keepers a choice of designs (e.g. flag-tags and button-tags), functionality (e.g. visual and electronic) and price points. The market is innovative, characterised by new technologies and new applications of existing technologies. For example, in recent years, there has been increased interest in utilising electronic tags to support data gathering to inform on-farm management decision making (including weight gain and health treatments).
Tag Application:
With such a wide range of tags to choose from, it’s easy to find that the applicator being used isn’t the recommended one. All the manufacturers we spoke as part of our ear tag loss project emphasised the importance of matching the applicator to the tag, explaining that even the smallest of misalignments risks impacting on tag retention. Over time, tagging practices can drift away from the recommended approach and details may be lost or misinterpreted as they are shared with other members of the farming family or new members of staff. Suppliers are required to provide advice on the application of their tags, and as well as the in-pack instructions, increasingly this includes access to short videos and online resources that provide a checklist of good tagging guidelines.
Stock Type:
Matching the choice of tag to the type of stock is vital. Some respondents to the survey commented on heightened loss rates they were observing among bought-in stock and interestingly several farmers highlighted factoring-in the costs of replacing lost tags into the price they were prepared to pay for stock sourced from producers they had come to associate with poor tag retention rates. A hidden cost for those impacted.
Farming Practices:
Almost two-thirds of respondents to the survey saw an association between farming practices and tag losses. For cattle, ring feeders, feed barriers and gates were all identified as contributing to an increased risk of tag losses. As the essentials of livestock farming, it highlights the importance of reducing the risks arising from damaged feeders, fences and gates.
For the livestock keeper, tag loss and retention is about selecting the right tag for the job, following best practice guidelines, setting stock up for lifetime performance and monitoring on-farm hazards.
The support for the survey from all participating livestock keepers and wider stakeholders is gratefully acknowledged. This work is supported by the Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (SRUC-A2-5).
Top Tips
- Use the correct tag and tag applicator when tagging animals, ensuring that the tag is clean and the applicator is working effectively.
- Follow the tag manufacturers guidance when applying tags to ensure correct tag placement in the animal’s ear.
- Ensure animals are suitability restrained when applying ear tags.
- Keep a note of tag loss rates in the herd over time and specifically fields and sheds where higher rates of tag loss occur to help identify reasons for losses.
- Consider opportunities for added value e.g. collecting data electronically.
- Feedback ear tag loss rates to tag manufacturers.
Useful Links
Sam Beechener, SRUC Research, Sam.Beechener@sruc.ac.uk
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Posted by Unearthed News on 15/09/2025
