weather


Connect with
our community:

Follow us on twitterJoin us on Twitter


Quick links:


Share the EXTRA



 






 

 




Bookmark and Share

AngusSourceThe Source

What are all the popular cows wearing these days?

Fig. 1: Visual tags at www.customcattletags.com

customcattletags.com

Click any of the images in this story to see a larger view.

Ear tags from www.customcattletags.com are all the rage this spring. Cows love the two-piece tags that can be customized with the ranch or farm name, phone numbers and even some pedigree information. It is up to the producer to decide what information is the most important to print on each tag. Destron Fearing™ manufactures the visual two-piece tags in nine different colors and four sizes. e.Tags, ChoiceSets and 840 tags are available, too.


Bet you are thinking the website will be hard to use. Here is a preview showing how you can order your own customized visual tag from www.customcattletags.com.


To begin, type www.customcattletags.com into your browser and click on Visual Tags (see Fig. 1).


Fig. 2: Build your tag

visualtags

The next page will show information about the options you have and pricing. I’m going to use the XL panel tag here; take a minute and check out the different sizes available.

Fig. 3: Sequential tags

Click on “Build Your Tag” (see the circled area in Fig. 2).

There are currently four steps you will need to complete to order your customized tags. Please ignore Step 5 because currently we don’t offer customization on the stud.


Step 1

Step 1 is really easy. First you must decide if you want your management numbers in sequential order or nonsequential order.


Let’s start with sequential. Say you want numbers 100, 101, 102, etc., up to 150 because you want 50 XL ear tags. Enter 50 in the box that asks “Quantity of Sequential Tags.” Directly below is another box in which I entered 100, because I want preprinted sequential numbers beginning with that number (see Fig. 3).

Fig. 4: Non-sequential tags

customcattletags.com

Some producers use a letter on each tag for a year code. I’m going to use B because that is the letter for 2014. The options of “I want to include the second letter ___ _____ the above numbers,” are drop-down boxes, so you can only choose numbers or letters in the first box. The second drop-down box has the choice of before or after. You have the option of having a letter or number printed on every tag at the beginning or end of the sequential series you choose.


Now I would like some blank tags. I have chosen 25 from the drop-down box menu. Blank tags can only be ordered in packages of 25.

Fig. 5: Numbers and characters for tags

customcattletags.com

You may want to retag a group of older cows that have lost some tags, and their numbers are not sequential. They are Z027, Z044, Z053, 12Z, 1Z, 211, 212, 2Z, 7Z. You will need to download a tag template file. You will find that toward the bottom of the left column (see Fig. 4).


Now you can type in the tag numbers you need for each specific animal. If you want custom text on any of the text lines, you can add it, too. Please remember tag numbers and letters can only be five characters long, and each text field has a maximum number of letters, as well. If you go over, the website will not let your file upload (see Fig. 5).


Fig. 6: Save as CSV file

customcattletags.com

The file has to be saved as a CSV file. Here is how you save the file correctly. On your computer at the top click “File/Save as” and pick the location where you want to save it. Next, where it says “Save as Type:” there is a drop-down box here and you can choose from many options. Pick CSV (comma delimited) (see Fig. 6).

Fig. 7: Upload your file to the site

customcattletags.com

Now you are ready to upload your file to the website. Click on the “Browse” button and find the tag template file you just saved. Click on the file, and it should upload (see Fig. 7).

Fig. 8: Tag color choices

customcattletags.com

Now the rest is easy!


Step 2

Step 2 is choosing the tag color. Just click on the circle beside the color you want. I have chosen white (see Fig. 8).

Fig. 9: Ranch name or phone number on tag

customcattletags.com

Step 3

For Step 3, you must answer this question: Do you want a logo on the front of your tag? You must have the logo saved as a JPG file, and it should be a small file. The logo will print on your tag in an area approximately 1 inch (in.) × 1 in. If you are not sure how your logo will look, find a copy machine and reduce it to that size. That will give you an idea how it will look on a tag.

Fig. 10: Customize the back of the tag

customcattletags.com

Click the box next to “A Logo” and then on “Browse.” You must upload a logo that has a file size of less than 100 KB, and it must be saved as a JPG, TIFF or GIF. If you get an error message, usually the logo file is too large to upload.


Do you want your ranch name or phone number on the front of your tags? Look at the tag and click on the Text box and type in what you want to appear on your tags. I have chosen to say ANGUS ROCK 816.383.5100 (see Fig. 9).

Fig. 11: "Build Your Tags" preview

customcattletags.com


Step 4

Now you have the option to customize the back of the tag. You can add one line of text, a logo or both. Maybe you want the same management number on the back that you have on the front. This tag will have a text line at the bottom that says St. Joseph, MO, and the management number on the back (see Fig. 10).


We are going to skip Step 5. You can customize the tag stud with text, but it works the same as Step 3 and 4.


Now, at the bottom of the page click the button “Build your Tags” (see Fig. 11).


Fig. 12: Preview a proof of your tags

customcattletags.com

You will be able to preview a proof of one of your tags (see Fig. 12).


Plus, in the lower right corner is a spreadsheet you can open by clicking “Customize Tag Detail” (see Fig. 13).


You can view each tag entered and edit or delete each individual tag. Once you have completed proofreading your information, click Add Tags to Cart (see Fig. 14).

Fig. 13: "Customize Tag Detail" spreadsheet

customcattletags.com


You can check out your cart then or you can continue shopping.


The site www.custom
cattletags.com
has added some new products from Allflex. Check out the Allflex A Tag in nine colors. This one-piece tag comes blank or pre-numbered; sorry, no customization on these yet. When you work your calves, maybe you need to replace an automatic syringe? We have those, too.


Fig. 14: Add tags to cart

customcattletags.com

The American Angus Association wants you to have access to some of the most cost-effective ear tags and accessories possible so you can focus on your herd. Visit www.customcattletags.com today!


Comment on the storyEditor's Note:Ginette Kurtz is manager of AngusSource Genetic for the American Angus Association.





[Click here to go to the top of the page.]