On our farm Identification starts at breeding.

We use two different ear tags here at TRI-QUEST.

• One is the 'small roto tags' that we purchase from Premier Supply out of Iowa.These tags come in several different colors and numbers ranging from 1-999. They are easy and quick to install.

   

• The other is a 'double sheep and goat tag' that we purchase from Jeffers Supply out of Missouri. These tags come in several colors and an unlimited range of numbers.

   

• Each type tag requires it's own application tool.

   

To start the Identification program each Buck is assigned his own 'personal color' to be used as a 'Breeding Code' starting the first breeding season we use him. He will retain his 'Breeding Code' color for the entire time he is used on our farm. And, yes, if you are 'in the business' long enough or have many, many Bucks you will eventually run out of color choices. wee simply reuse a color that was assigned to a Buck that is no longer on the farm. For us it is no problem to remember that the 'older Does' are offspring of 'whoever'. We find that usually by this time these Does are slated for sale anyway.

At the time each Doe is turned into the pasture with the Buck that was selected to be her mate for that season she receives an ear tag of the 'color ' assigned to the Buck as a 'Breeding Code'. This tag is put in the Does right ear. At this time the 'number' on the tag has no significance.

By tagging the Doe at the time of breeding we accomplish to things. First, if the Doe gets out of the pasture or somehow gets mixed in with other Does we can tell at a glance which Buck she is to be penned with. Second, at t he time of Kidding we can tell instantly which Buck sired the Kids she has giving birth to. These tags seldom 'fall out' of t he ear, but as a backup we record each Doe and the Buck she is being breed to in our record book. The ear tagging simply gives us an easy 'in the field' reference.

When the Doe gives birth each of her Kids are given a small roto tag of the same color as the Doe's 'Breeding Code'. This 'Sire code' now identifies the Buck that sired that Kid.

FEMALE Kids are tagged with EVEN NUMBERS and the tag is placed in the Kids LEFT ear towards the back half of the ear. This placement in important. We will be giving the retained Doe Kids a permanent tag at the onset of the next breeding season. We want the permanent tag to be placed towards the front of the ear where it is easier to read. We record the number and the color of the tag in our permanent records along with the number of the Dam and siblings and the birth weight of the Kid.

BUCK Kids are tagged with ODD NUMBERS and the tag is placed in the Kids RIGHT ear towards the front half of the ear. Again we record the same information in our permanent records that we recorded for the Doe Kids plus make a note if the Kid was left as an intact Buck or not.

By using odd numbers for the Bucks and even numbers for the Does we know the sex of the Kid just by the number recorded in our record book. In the field we can tell at distance if it is a Buck or Doe by which ear the tag is in and by the color we know the sire.

Any Kids that are sold, either as breeding stock or to slaughter prior to the next breeding season will leave the farm with only this small inexpensive roto tag.

Animals that are retained for our own breeding herd receive a large double sided tag at the on set of the next breeding or sooner if we determine that the Kid is a 'keeper'. The numbers on these larger tags are easy to read at a reasonable distance (the small roto tags are not) and because the tags are also numbered on the back if the number should fade you can catch the animal and still read its permanent Identification number on the inside of the ear.

Each percentage of Boer (1/2, 3/4, 7/8, 15/16, 31/32,Fullblood) is tagged with a specific COLOR of tag. To help us remember the 'color' significance we have elected to use numbers in the 100's to represent the first cross (1/2) 200 series to represent the second cross (3/4), 300 series to represent the third cross(7/8) etc. Double digits are reserved for any animal we have that has NO Boer blood.This way we can tell in the field exactly what percentage the animal is. This larger tag is placed in the front half of the ear that carries the 'Sire code' (small roto tag) of the animal.So now each animal has its own NUMBER and COLOR to tell us the individual ID and the percent of Boer in that animal, each animal retains the small roto tag given at birth that tells us the Sire (this is helpful in making breeding decisions in the field to avoid breeding a Doe back to her Sire).

At weaning if we are pleased with the Kids from that mating we leave the 'Breeding tag' in the Doe's ear and that tells us to repeat that breeding again. If at weaning we feel that a different mating should be tried, using a pair of side cutters, we cut a portion of the 'Breeding tag' off, telling us to try a different mating the next season. As Does are again placed into the breeding pasture with the Buck selected for that year we remove her old tag and use the same hole to place the 'Breeding tag' the identifies that years mate. If the Doe is being bred back to the same Buck as the previous year no change is necessary.

We find the more information that the animal 'carry' with it the quicker and easier it is when 'working' the herd.