Exhibitions

TPU Animal Ear Tags

News posted on: 25-12-09 - by kevin - Tag Encyclopedia,NEWS RFID Tag Manufacturer / NewsID:281

TPU animal ear tags are livestock identifiers (used for cattle, sheep, pigs, etc.) made from Thermoplastic Polyurethane material. They represent a significant upgrade over traditional ear tag materials (like plastic, rubber, metal) and are increasingly used in modern animal husbandry due to their superior comprehensive properties.

1. What is TPU Material?

TPU is an elastomeric plastic, bridging the gap between rubber and plastic. It possesses:

High Elasticity & Flexibility: Similar to rubber, it can bend and stretch.
High Strength & Wear Resistance: Far superior to ordinary rubber and most plastics.
Excellent Weather Resistance: UV resistant, temperature tolerant (stable from -40°C to over 80°C), hydrolysis resistant, and ozone resistant.
Good Tear Resistance and Oil Resistance.
Environmentally Friendly & Non-Toxic: Complies with food contact and animal safety standards.

2. Advantages of TPU Ear Tags vs. Traditional Ear Tags

Feature	TPU Ear Tags	Traditional Plastic (e.g., PVC, ABS) Tags	Rubber Ear Tags
Flexibility	Excellent, bends and springs back, resistant to breakage	Stiff and brittle, can crack in cold weather	Good, but prone to permanent deformation
Wear Resistance	Excellent, surface resists abrasion, markings last long	Fair, surface scuffs easily	Poor, wears easily
Weather Resistance	Excellent, UV resistant, temperature tolerant, crack-resistant	Fair, degrades and becomes brittle outdoors long-term	Fair, prone to oxidation and cracking
Tear Resistance	High, resists tearing even if snagged	Low, edges can crack easily	Fair
Animal Comfort	High, soft and conforms to the ear, reduces irritation/injury	Lower, hard material may chafe the ear	High
Lifespan	Long, typically several years or even lifetime	Shorter, may degrade/damage in 1-3 years	Medium
Cost	Higher	Low	Medium

3. Main Applications & Features of TPU Ear Tags

Visual Ear Tags:
- Clear Marking: Surface ideal for laser engraving or high-adhesion printing. Numbers, QR codes, barcodes remain clear and durable, resistant to wear.
- Vivid & Stable Colors: Color compounds are evenly mixed, resistant to fading under long-term sun exposure.
Carrier for Electronic Ear Tags (RFID):
- TPU is the ideal material for encapsulating high-end RFID electronic ear tags. It securely embeds the chip and antenna, providing excellent protection against moisture, dirt, manure, and physical impact.
- Its flexibility ensures the electronic tag withstands daily animal activity, safeguarding data reading stability and scan rates.
Special Design:
- Can be made into various shapes like flag, band, or button styles.
- Smooth, rounded edges for comfortable wear.
- Can be used with female/male button locking systems for security and retention.

4. Suitable Animals

Cattle: Especially beef and dairy cattle in harsh, long-term grazing environments.
Sheep & Goats.
Pigs: Breeding stock, or finisher pigs in longer cycles.
Other large/medium-sized livestock like deer, horses, etc.

5. Selection and Usage Considerations

Quality Assessment:
- High-quality TPU tags feel soft yet elastic, snapping back quickly when stretched.
- Should have no pungent plastic odor.
- Check the clarity and adhesion of printing/engraving.
Installation Key Points:
- Must use a dedicated ear tag applicator for proper one-time installation.
- Apply in the “soft part” of the ear (often the lower-middle third, avoiding cartilage) to minimize pain and infection risk.
- Follow animal welfare principles; install at an appropriate age (e.g., pre-weaning for calves) by trained personnel.
Management & Record Keeping:
- Record the tag number and individual animal data (breed, birth date, parentage, vaccination history, etc.) in a management database after application.
- Regularly check tags for integrity and replace promptly if damaged.

6. Summary

TPU animal ear tags represent a balanced choice for durability, animal welfare, and management efficiency. Although the per-unit cost is higher than traditional plastic tags, their extended lifespan, very low loss/replacement rates, and superior data retention can actually reduce overall lifecycle costs while enhancing management precision and reliability.