Animal Identification
Countryside Services was established in 1998 and is a fully owned subsidiary of the Ulster Farmers Union.
The Animal Identification aspect of the business started in Northern Ireland becoming the leading supplier in the market. In 2008 we purchased the animal identification business of Earlsmere ID based in Barnsley S Yorkshire. The Animal Identification part of the business operates in all areas of these islands.
In 2008 the business signed a distribution agreement with Destron Fearing a division of the US company Digital Angel (DIGA) for its extensive range of visual and electronic identification products.
Earlsmere Ltd based in Barnsley started the Livestock Identification business in the 1990's and this part of the business was transferred to Countryside Ltd. in March 2009. Earlsmere Ltd continues to trade in identification systems, bar code labels and vibration monitoring systems. They are an independent company - for more details please visit their website
Coming Soon - Order Tags Online
We've listened to our customers and will soon be launching a new online animal identification ordering tool for customers and merchants.
Sheep EID
With sheep EID regulations now upon us Countryside Services are pleased to offer a cost effective solution to sheep movements.
Countryside Loop Tag
The Countryside Loop Tag which was previously sold by some customers in its non-EID format is now available for immediate order from Countryside Services
Fold-over tag (Available Summer 2010)
From June 2010 Destron Fearing will have available a different Fold-over tag and also add a high quality 25mm EID Button tag to the range, as shown below. Destron Fearing have an excellent track record with respect to electronic identification of different animal species. Indeed, along with the agricultural department in the US, they have developed and used implantable microchips to identify many millions of migratory fish, specifically on river systems where large dams have been built to make sure these structures do not impede the course of nature. Working in tangent with this technology, over the last 15 years, Destron Fearing has developed EID devices for both cattle and sheep that conform to the highest standards and have proven track records when it comes to readability and retention rates.
The Fold-over tags have proven themselves, over the last two years in the Scottish pilot trials, to have a very high retention rates and an excellent read rate, both in speed of read and read orientation i.e. no matter where the sheep's head is the reader will pick up the signal.
These tags, although priced to be a competitive movement tag, will also have the quality to last the lifetime of breeding animals. One applicator will apply both the visual and EID tags, with no need for separate pins or anvils.
Button Tag (Available Summer 2010)
The sheep EID button Tag from Destron Fearing will be a lightweight 25mm tag and will be available with a number of visual options, including button and leaf tags. These tags use the same technology as the fold-over tags and will produce the same high read rate. One applicator will also apply both the visual and EID tags.
If you would like to discuss our sheep tags further please contact us on 0845 0700 237.