Know your applicator!

An RFID tag applicator, sometimes referred to as a “tagger” or as “pliers,” is the one vital tool every producer needs to make tagging cattle possible for our national traceability program.

There are a lot of different applicators to choose from, and while they’re not all the same, they’re definitely not interchangeable with the different brands of tags! So how well do you know your applicator?

The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) currently offers six different brands of approved RFID tags for animal traceability and identification. Each brand of tag has its own dedicated applicator that must only be used with its respective tag. For a brand like Shearwell, applicators are straight forward – Shearwell is the only brand, at present, that offers producers a steel “loop” tag, and so both the applicator and tag are both quite distinct, and it is impossible to try and apply one of the other five CCIA tags with their applicator.

However, things can easily get confusing when looking at the other brands on offer, as they are all offering a “button” style of tag. While each of these tags has their own distinctive visual differences, due to their size and colour, it’s understandable that some producers can mix these tags up, and believe that, for example, a ComfortEars applicator is good to apply an Allflex tag!

Fortunately, the CCIA, as part of its “Retention Matters” campaign, has a detailed online guide for which applicator goes with which tag. Each brand of tag is given its own individual page with clear images of both the tag and their suitable applicator(s).

Don’t be fooled if you see the word “universal” on an applicator’s packaging! There are no truly universal applicators for CCIA tags. All the currently approved button tag applicators each uses a pin to help locate the stud portion of the tag with the button portion – each brand uses both a different type of pin in their applicator and a different method of locating the pin through the stud/button combination to pair them together in the ear of the animal. Applicators with “universal” in their description are so named by the manufacturer because they can be used to apply both that manufacturers’ RFID tag and their brand of visual tag. However, in these cases, the applicator must be fitted with a small plastic adaptor, or “shoe,” to allow it to apply your visual tag – and that adaptor must be removed to allow the correct application of the RFID tag!

CCIA’s “Retention Matters” website has many detailed images of all approved applicators and any relevant adaptors they are supplied with to help you identify the right solution for your situation. We also have a series of short videos that highlight the various approved applicators and their features. If you’re having retention issues and think your applicator may be part of the problem, check out retentionmatters.ca/tags-applicators or contact us on toll-free 1-877-909-2333 – and our staff will be happy to help you.

This article was first published in Volume 4 Issue 2 of ABP Magazine (June 2024). Watch for more digital content from the magazine on ABP Daily.