EID tags future proof central Canterbury hill country sheep and beef farm

At a glance

Sam and Cathie Bell
Location: Benlea, Windwhistle, Central Canterbury
STOCK: 4800 Romney ewes, 1200 ewe hoggets
FINISHING: 400 Friesian and Friesian-cross bulls a year
RapID tag

Challenges

• Being able to auto draft and manage their A and B flocks
• Future proofing their farming operation

Benefits

• The additional cost of an Allflex EID tag, compared with a normal ear tag, relative to the value of a breeding ewe, is insignificant
• EID offered a quicker tagging system than the one they had, with the tags coming in a continuous strip

Background

Central Canterbury hill country sheep and beef farmers Sam and Cathie Bell say they started EID tagging their sheep flock last spring with a view to future proofing their farming operation.

With ewes tagged as lambs, it will take about seven years before all age groups are EID tagged. “Price-wise, we believe that the additional cost of an Allflex EID tag, compared with a normal ear tag, relative to the value of a breeding ewe, is insignificant,” Sam says.