Colour-coded visual ear tags are a simple yet effective way to enhance herd organisation and simplify daily tasks. By assigning specific colours to animals based on key traits, farmers can quickly identify and sort livestock with ease.
Why Colour Coding Works
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Grouping by Age:
Assign colours to represent calves, yearlings, and mature animals, making it easy to identify age groups at a glance. This is particularly helpful for breeding, health checks, and market preparation. -
Health Status:
Use distinct colours for animals requiring special care or treatment, ensuring they receive the attention they need without delay. -
Breed Differentiation:
For mixed herds, colour coding helps distinguish between breeds, improving efficiency in breeding programs and herd management. -
Legal Requirements:
In Australia, adhering to specific tagging protocols is crucial to upholding the country's biosecurity standards. Sheep ear tags, for example, follow the year-of-birth colour system, which comprises of eight distinct colours each assigned to a year in a rotational cycle. Pink tags are also used in order to designate post-breeder use, indicating sheep have been acquired from a different owner or PIC.
Examples of Effective Colour Coding
- Age Groups: Assign colours to represent calves, yearlings, and mature animals.
- Health Status: Use unique colours for animals requiring special care.
- Breeds: Differentiate breeds in mixed herds with distinct colours.