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Prices for a standard set of cattle tags vary since 1 November, with all three companies in the market offering different packages.
The ICBF contribution of 38c per set, which was optional for a period last year, is now being paid to ICBF by the tag companies under an arrangement enforced by the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed.
Most expensive
Mullinahone Co-op’s Allflex tag set is the most expensive at €2.90 including VAT.
Cormac Tagging has increased the price of its Caisley tag set by 10c to €2.78 since 1 November.
Datamars’ own-branded tag set is the cheapest on the market at €2.68 including VAT.
Other factors
However, aside from price, there are other factors that farmers will take into account when buying more than 2.2m tag sets for calves next year.
These include offers of free tag applicators, the loss rate on tags, cost of replacement tags and ease of ordering.
The list below shows the different packages on offer and claims made by each company.
Cormac Tagging
Price per set: €2.78 including VAT.
Tag brand: Caisley.
Extras: free applicator with every order for 50 tag sets.
Replacement tags: free.
Tag loss rate: less than 1% across 17 European countries.
Postage: €5.95 tracked postage for new tags, €2.95 for replacement tags.
Ordering: online, by phone, through social media and by post using the order form printed in the Irish Farmers Journal.
Datamars
Price per set: €2.68 including VAT.
Tag brand: Datamars.
Extras: free applicator with every order for 50 tag sets.
Replacement tags: €1.95
Tag loss rate: less than 2% on 400m tags sold worldwide.
Postage: €5.50 tracked postage for new tags, €1.50 for replacement tags.
Ordering: online, by phone and by post using paper order forms available through Osmonds.
Mullinahone Co-op
Price per set: €2.90 including VAT.
Tag brand: Allflex.
Extras: Discussed with all customers individually.
Replacement tags: €2.32
Tag loss rate: Refused to answer.
Postage: €5.50 tracked postage for new tags, €1.50 for replacement tags.
Ordering: online, by phone and by post using the order form printed in the Irish Farmers Journal.
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