Welcome and THANK YOU for your business. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your Ritchey Tags.
Use the Correct Tool Pin
The button and tool pin (or needle) are designed to work together.
Using the wrong tool pin in your tagger can cause broken button tips, incomplete connections and repeated tag loss. When many tags from the same tagging session fail in the same way, the tool pin and button combination should be one of the first things checked.
Tool pins can often be identified by their shape or color:
- Ritchey: Copper-colored tool pin—designed for use with the Ritchey Clover Button
- Y-Tex: Hollow-tip tool pin—designed for use with Y-Tex buttons.
- Allflex: Graduated tool pin that tapers from thicker to thinner—designed for use with Allflex buttons.
Before tagging, confirm that the correct tool pin is installed in every applicator being used. Remember to check borrowed taggers and equipment used by anyone helping you—including the neighbors.
Watch: Why the Correct Ear-Tag Tool Pin Matters
Place the Tag Correctly
Proper placement gives the tag room to move while protecting the more vulnerable areas of the ear.
Install the tag in the center of the middle third of the ear, between the cartilage ribs.
- Too close to the tip: The tag is more likely to snag and tear through the ear.
- Too close to the head: The tag may have less room to move, increasing the potential for irritation and infection.
- Through a cartilage rib: The application may be more painful and can interfere with proper healing.
If you may add an EID tag later, place the visual tag slightly toward the tip—but keep it safely within the middle third. This preserves space closer to the head for the EID tag.
The simple rule: Between the ribs. In the middle third. With enough room for the tag to move freely.
Check the Tag Before Releasing the Animal
Take a few seconds to check the finished tag:
- The tag should swing freely on the button.
- The ear should lie naturally—not be pinched or bunched between the tag and button.
- Give the tag a gentle tug to confirm that it is securely locked onto the button.
If the tag binds against the ear or the connection does not feel secure, inspect it before releasing the animal.
The goal: The tag moves freely, sits correctly and stays connected.
Take the Chill Off Before Tagging
Cold tags become stiffer and may not flex enough for the button to seat fully. This can be especially noticeable when frozen tags are paired with buttons that have been kept warm in a pocket.
Before tagging:
- Keep the tags and buttons together.
- Store both in the cab or another protected location.
- Allow both pieces to reach a similar, moderate temperature.
- Do not warm only the buttons.
Keep the tags and buttons together and take the chill off both before tagging.
Seeing More Than a Few Lost Tags?
An occasional lost tag may be an isolated event. But if a significant portion of cattle tagged during the same session—such as 20–30%—lose their tags, something likely affected the group.
Before retagging, pause and check for a shared factor:
- Were the correct button and tool pin used?
- Were multiple applicators or helpers involved?
- Did the tags fully lock onto the buttons?
- Do the affected ears show a similar tear or hole pattern?
- Did the cattle encounter the same feeder, fence or other possible snag point?
A high loss rate points to a shared pattern—it does not prove a single cause. Start with what the affected cattle shared.
Watch: How to Tag a Calf with Ritchey Tags: A Step-by-Step Guide
