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THE UNSUNG HEROES OF FARMING: WHY EAR TAGS MATTER
Mr Chelangoi fondly known as ‘Chela’ was a renowned livestock farmer in the greater Rift Valley. He was the proud owner of 500 Sahiwal cattle which were the talk of the village. Chela was indeed a role model to his fellow villagers as far as livestock management was concerned. His farm had been identified by the villagers as a model farm for training and demonstration.
On one fine day, Chela woke up very early to check on his livestock as was his usual routine. Lo and behold, Chela could not believe his eyes when he saw a great number of the livestock looking weak and could hardly walk. By midday two of his most prized cattle had died. He was very sure that all his cattle had been given the required vaccinations and he kept track of any disease outbreak in his area in order to take necessary precautions.
He hastily called the veterinarian who came to check on the cattle and asked for the medical history of each cow. Chela’s responses were vague. The more questions he was asked, the more agitated he became. The farm was now in chaos as obtaining the treatment records was a nightmare and the veterinarian could not help him. Sadly, the cattle had been exposed to a viral disease so Chela had to stand by and watch his herd drop dead one after the other.
Oh no! If only Chela had tagged his cattle the situation would have been salvaged as it would have been easy to retrieve records specific to each animal.
So, let us now talk about ear tags and what it entails. Ear tagging is very important and something so easy to fix on the animal that it can be done by the farmer himself or herself without having to get the services of a Veterinarian. As long as you have a tag and the tag applicator you are good to go. Ear tags are important in modern livestock management, offering a practical solution for identification and record-keeping. By understanding the different types available and implementing best practices, you can enhance your operations and ensure the health and productivity of your herd. Whether you’re managing cattle, sheep, or goats, investing time in proper tagging will pay off in the long run, making your farming experience more efficient, organized and of course profitable.
At EVERLAND KILIMO, we sell variety of EAR TAGS i.e. for sheep, goats, pigs and Cattle. We offer NUMBERED EAR TAGS, PLAIN or CUSTOMIZED EAR TAGS for your livestock for easier identification. Our CUSTOMIZED EAR TAGS can contain the name of the farm, the name of the animal, the date of birth. Some farms have even gone a notch higher and barcoded each tag so that the farmer only needs to scan the tag to obtain the animal’s records. If only he, Chela had tagged his cattle, he would have been spared the huge loss of his livestock as tagging ensures:-
- Easy identification
- Facilitate effective record keeping of vaccinations given and general health
- Enhance herd management
- Prove ownership and manage sales
We all need to embrace technology, or can I say inventions that make life easier of all of us. Many people think it’s an extra cost but the loss you would get for losing a herd of cattle is no joke. The number of years spent taking care of each animal is worth making sure a farmer, or any farmer gets profit for their herd.
You can get EAR TAGS at EVERLAND KILIMO at farmer friendly prices; which is a drop in the ocean compared to the immense benefits and the loss which would be incurred otherwise.
News Flash! Chela has placed his first order of ear tags so do not be left behind.
Happy Farming!
