Welcome to DairyTrace TagTips - quick tips, helpful hints and FAQs to help you understand the most efficient ways to use your traceability tools.

Tag placement for long-term retention

Tag placement is key for long-term retention.



Place tags in the slightly thicker and tougher part of the calf’s ear, close to the head in the first third (1/3) of the ear and between the two ribs (cartilage bands) of the ear. This is ideal for tag retention due to the natural curvature of the ear and reduces snags while allowing animal growth. Application too deep in the ear is not recommended as some air space is needed for proper healing. 

Ensure the application areas of the ears are clean and free of any debris prior to tagging. It is recommended to disinfect the ears or tags to optimize healing.


The female part of the tag (black cap) sits at the front of the ear and the male part (the stem), at the back.

The identifiers with black buttons (female part) must be positioned in front of the ear, where they are protected by the curvature of the ear.


For maximum retention, it is better to use a new hole when re-identifying an animal.


Watch the video below to see proper calf RFID tagging 

Hear what dairy producer Ben Loewith has to say about why and how he implements traceability on his farm: 

Tag Transition Reminder - Use up any yellow button tags you may still have on farm!



Allowable use of beef yellow button tags will be phased out on September 1, 2023. Contact Customer Services or refer to the February 14, 2023 edition of TagTips for how to add yellow tags to your DairyTrace account.

TagTips February 14

Have questions or need help on the above topics? Please contact Customer Services

at 1-866-558-7223 or email us at [email protected].

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