Cattle Ear Tag FAQs & Livestock Identification Help

The Ritchey large ear tags are ideal for mature cattle, cows, bulls, and bison.  Medium ear tags are a perfect size for calves.  Small ear tags are designed for calves too, but can be used on other small livestock such as sheep and goats. Ribbon ear tags are also used by some on sheep and goats AND for double tagging cattle.

Ritchey offers our ear tags in 14 different color combinations to help you better manage your livestock herd. Since 1964, yellow/black is by far our best selling cattle tag color followed by white/black, red/white, and black/white.

Never Fades™ tags are built for animals that need long-term identification. Their dual-colored construction allows identification to be permanently engraved into the tag, providing 15+ years of readability. They’re ideal for replacement heifers, cows, bulls and other animals expected to stay in the herd.

Utility Tags are Ritchey's write-on tags and are the practical choice for animals that don’t need lifetime identification. Designed for 1–3 years of readability, they’re a more economical option for calves, feeder cattle, sorting and other short-term identification needs.

Simple rule: If the animal may be around for years, choose Never Fades™. If the identification only needs to last a few years, choose Utility Tags/write-on.

We recommend using the animal ID number, birth year, and sire or dam initials. Some producers include ranch name, logo, or management numbers to improve traceability.

Never Fades™ identification is engraved into the tag rather than printed or marked on its surface. Each tag is made with two contrasting colors of material permanently bonded together. When the outer layer is engraved away, the contrasting inner color is revealed to create the number, letter or design.

Because the identification comes from the tag itself—not ink, foil or another surface marking—there is nothing printed on the surface to fade or rub off. The result is high-contrast identification designed to remain readable for 15+ years.

Yes.  We offer sets of both large and medium pre-engraved ear tags in our most popular colors.  Each set consists of 25 tags, example 1-25, 26-50, 51-75, etc.  Lead time on pre-engraved ear tags is 5 to 7 business days.  Large pre-engraved tags can be found HERE and medium pre-engraved tags can be found HERE. 

Yes.  While you are always welcome to order blank tags and permanently engrave them yourself, Ritchey can custom engrave your tags for you.  Choose which size/color of engravable ear tag you want and click on Customize Your Ear Tags to work with our online 3D tag design tool.  

The lead times for custom engraving can often reach 5 weeks.  If that's too long, we also have a list of partners who can custom engrave your tags for you.  Please find them HERE.

Yes. While Ritchey ear tags are most commonly used for cattle, they can also be used to visually identify other livestock and animals when the tag size and application are appropriate. Customers use Ritchey tags for animals such as bison, sheep, goats, pigs and other livestock.

Choose a tag size that fits the animal and its intended use, and always consider species-specific tagging practices and identification requirements. Ritchey visual tags do not replace official identification when a government-approved form of identification is required.

Ritchey tags are also used beyond livestock. Their durable construction and long-lasting identification make them useful for equipment labeling, outdoor asset identification and other applications where identification needs to remain readable in tough outdoor conditions.

Absolutely!  You can send a PDF or jpeg file of your ranch's brand or logo to sales@ritcheytags.com and one of our Customer Success Associates will provide a proof for your approval.  You can also simply call 1 800 EAR TAGS for complete details on tag customization!

Absolutely! While it technically is possible to engrave completely through the ear tag, with a little practice, you'll be able to successfully engrave on both sides of the tag. In fact, many ranchers engrave custom information on both sides of the ear tag to help them manage their herd better. Engrave away friends!

If you can't find the template you're looking for on our 3D tag design tool here on this site, Ritchey has a full-time graphic designer who can help out.  Please feel free to reach out with your ideas at sales@ritcheytags.com. 

We implemented the 3D ear tag designer to provide you more power over what information to put on your livestock ID tags. In our first release we were able to cover 90% of normal use cases. Here is an instructional video on how to use it Ritchey 3D Tag Maker. If you're struggling with the new tool, can't figure out how to use it, or it doesn't provide you with the template you're looking for, just give us a call at 1-800-EAR-TAGS or email us at sales@ritcheytags.com. It's no problem at all. We're always happy to help you!

There are several ways. 1) Use the Ritchey 3D ear tag design tool  on this site.  Just click on the ear tag size you want and click "Customize Your Ear Tags"  2) Email us your requests at  sales@ritcheytags.com. 3) Contact us the old fashion way at 1-800-EAR-TAGS.  We always love hearing from our customers.

Yes. We do not force you to buy Ritchey Clover buttons for your Ritchey ear tags. While we feel our buttons provide the best retention around, we understand you may have a favorite brand or have dozens of other buttons laying around your shop. If not a Ritchey Clover button, we recommend our standard button or AllFlex buttons for the best retention possible. Don't forget the importance of the correct tool pin! See here - Tale of the Tool Pins

Only the Ritchey tool pin, available for sale HERE, should be used to install the Ritchey "Clover" button. Using Y-Tex or Allflex tool pins with the Ritchey "Clover" button CAN lead an insertion failure. See this video for further explanation - Tool Pin Explanation

Hands down, we believe the Ritchey "Clover" button is the absolute best backing you can use for a two-piece Ritchey ear tag. It's innovative shape results in less snagging, better overall retention and quicker healing.

The simple answer is NO, you do not need to buy a new tagger to install Ritchey ear tags. However, it is essential that your tagger has the correct tool pin to match the button you're trying to install. Ritchey Tool pins can be easily installed in most industry taggers. Here are two How to videos for more information.

How to prepare your tagger.

The importance of tool pins!

Yep! We sure do. In addition to the Clover button, we also sell the industry standard button - the one with the circle top similar to Allflex. However, you would need the standard tool pin to correctly install these buttons. Sometimes folks just like what they like.

The short answer is technically yes. Straight talk = we recommend you don't. A Y-Tex button is fantastic on a Y-Tex cattle tag. However, we redesigned the grommet on our Ritchey ear tag to work best with the Ritchey "Clover" button. The Ritchey ear tag and Clover button make for the ultimate two-piece solution when paired together.

To help avoid things getting snagged behind a cow's ear, we highly recommend the Ritchey "Clover" button. However, if you want another option to consider, our top two picks for the Ritchey ear tag would be our Standard Button or an Allflex button. A Y-Tex button is not the best choice for a Ritchey cow tag.

The Ritchey "Clover" button is incredibly durable. They can fail in extremely cold weather if you attempt to insert a warm button in a frozen tag.  We've made some major improvements since the launch of the Ritchey 1.0 "Clover" button. However, 99% of the time, a broken button usually means you're using the wrong tool pin.  Ritchey "Clover" buttons MUST be installed with a Ritchey tool pin.  See this video for a detailed explanation on why - Tool Pin Explanation

Yes. Our tags are made from durable plastic that remains flexible in cold conditions. However, it is advised to warm up the tag slightly, if even just in your coat pocket before installing.

The bits that come packaged with a Dremel tool that has not been purchased from Ritchey do not include the 1/4″ High Speed Cutter bit, which is the bit we highly recommend and found works best for engraving on the Ritchey Dual-Colored cattle ear tags.

You sure can! Our Ritchey tags are made from a durable polyurethane material that can be beautifully marked with most laser engraving systems.  Many makers and ranchers across the U.S. and beyond use hobby or shop-grade lasers to create custom cattle ear tags, ID markers, or decorative pieces.

Because every laser setup is a little different, we always recommend testing on a spare tag first to dial in your look. You’ll get the best results once you find that perfect balance of power and speed for your particular machine.

No, Ritchey does not carry a stencil for engraving ear tags.  If you feel you need to, try using a marker or pen to write on your ear tag as a guideline for permanently engraving or grab mailbox painting stencils.

Great question — and one we hear all the time!

There are plenty of reliable hobby and professional laser brands out there,
including xTool, Glowforge, OMTech, Thunder, Epilog, and Boss. Most of
these systems can engrave polyurethane well when dialed in correctly.

In our experience, the type of laser and your settings matter more than the brand name. For a polyurethane cattle tag, a CO₂ laser engraver usually delivers the most consistent, high-contrast results.
CO₂ lasers interact cleanly with the material surface, giving you sharp
definition without excessive melting or haze.

Diode and fiber lasers can sometimes mark polyurethane, but they typically don’t achieve the same crisp contrast or even coverage that a CO₂ beam can produce.

When you’re comparing machines, we recommend focusing on:

• Laser type (CO₂ for best results)
• Wattage and build quality
• Customer support and service reputation
• Country of manufacture and warranty terms

A quick look at Google or YouTube reviews from other makers and ranchers can tell you a lot about real-world performance and reliability.

Ultimately, every laser behaves a little differently — beam focus, optics, software, and even humidity can change the outcome. The best approach is to start with a CO₂ system, run small test engravings on a spare tag, and fine-tune your power, speed, and focus until you find your sweet spot.

Your brand of laser matters less than your willingness to experiment — that’s where the magic happens.

Each laser model has its own personality, so there’s no one-size-fits-all recipe — and that’s part of the fun!

The perfect combination of power, speed, focus, and passes depends on your specific laser wattage and setup.

Here’s our best maker tip:

• Start with lower power and faster speed settings.
• Run a small test grid on a corner or spare ear tag.
• Adjust one setting at a time until you get the depth, contrast, and edge finish you want.

If your machine has air assist, keep it on low for cleaner engraving, and make sure your focus is spot-on.

Pro tip: A light pass often gives a sharp, dark mark without melting the edges.

Always engrave in a well-ventilated area — polyurethane is a safe material to laser in small batches, but good airflow helps keep fumes down and results cleaner.

And of course, wear appropriate eye protection and follow your laser
manufacturer’s safety guidelines.

Note: Laser settings and results can vary between machines, models, and materials. The information above is provided as general guidance for Ritchey ear tags. We recommend testing your own setup to achieve the best results for your equipment.

Ritchey tags are suitable for use in herd-level management in conjunction with USDA Premises ID registration. However, for official Scrapie ID, USDA requires specific RFID or metal tags—Ritchey visual tags can be used for on-farm tracking alongside those.

Yes. Ritchey ear tags are widely used by cattle producers across the U.S. and meet the standards required by many USDA and state-level livestock identification programs. While our visual ID tags are not RFID-enabled, they are compliant for general identification and herd management purposes. Always check with your local animal health authority for specific tagging requirements.

If you’re moving cattle across state lines or participating in USDA traceability programs, 840 RFID tags may be required. However, for in-herd identification, visual tags like Ritchey’s engraved, non-fade tags are often preferred due to their durability and readability.

Yes. While Ritchey tags are visual (not RFID), many producers use them in traceability programs by maintainingaccurate records. Our tags are especially valuable in long-term disease management due to their lifelong readability.

We ship blank ear tags within 5 to 7 business days PLUS shipping time and custom engraved ear tags in 5 weeks PLUS shipping time.  Remember, lead time = from the time the order is taken to the time the order ships.  Our lead time does not include the time it takes to ship the product.

If you need your custom ear tags faster, please check with one of our many custom engraving partners - here Partners

Custom engraved cattle tags have a 5 week lead time before being shipped from our Colorado facility. *Lead times may vary slightly during peak seasons.

For shipping our ear tags and accessories, Ritchey uses USPS (United States Postal Service) and FedEx for shipping. Based on the size of your order you will be presented with the applicable shipping options at checkout.

Yes, we do ship to Canada along with many other countries. Customers are responsible for all shipping fees, duties, and taxes.  All transactions are made in US Dollars.

No. Our lead times are defined as the time between when an order is taken and when it ships. Expedited shipping will only shorten shipping time.

Yes. Ritchey tags are proudly manufactured in Fort Collins, Colorado, using American sourced materials and labor. Supporting Ritchey means supporting American ranchers and workers.