Attach the Tags

AfiCollars must be attached so that the tags all sit on the same side of each animal. The side where the tags sit must also correspond to the placement of antennas in the milking, feeding and sorting stations. Secure the animals in the headlock while attaching the AfiCollars:

To attach the AfiCollars

  1. Place the AfiCollar around the cow's neck and insert the strap end through the buckle.

    Warning: Avoid placing your hands inside the headlock.


  1. Ensure the weight is centered below the cow's neck, and the tag is located in the middle to upper area on her neck.

  2. Ensure the AfiCollar fits correctly: Make sure you can insert a maximum of two fingers between the strap and the cow.

    Warning: Deviating from the two-finger rule may result in incorrect data and/or collar loss

  1. Insert the end of the strap into the belt keeper.

Note: When culling a cow, the tag may be removed from her and put on another animal.

It is the farmer’s responsibility to attach the tags to all cows in the group and enter their IDs into the system. When an animal is removed from the group, it is the farmer’s responsibility to remove the tag from her leg and update the system. A removed tag may be stored or immediately re-used on another animal.

To attach leg tags to the animals:

  1. Position the arrow of the tag upwards and wrap the strap around the animal’s leg above the hoof, about 20cm/8inch above ground level.

  1. Insert the narrow end of the strap through the tag’s socket. Pull the strap using a finger in the strap opening, allowing the plastic to bend under your finger to prevent injury.

    Caution: Do not over- tighten the tag around the animal’s leg!

    • Ensure the tag is not too tight: Insert the smooth side of the spacer between the strap and the animal’s leg, and  pull and tighten the strap.

      Caution: The straps should be loose enough to rotate freely around the animals’ leg, to avoid injuries. This is especially important with heifers, whose legs are still growing.

  1. Remove the spacer from the strap: Use pruning shears to cut off the excess length of strap as close as possible to the tag.

    Caution: Keep the sharp side of the pruning shears away from the animal's leg.

When culling a cow, the tag may be removed from her and put on another animal. To do that you need to cut off the strap and use a new one. Follow the steps below to remove a tag from an animal.

To remove a tag

  1. Use pruning shears to carefully cut the strap. Cut from the bottom to the top, with the sharp side of the shears away from the animal’s leg.

  2. Pull the long edge of the strap to remove it from the tag.

  3. Remove the remaining edge of the strap. The tag is clear for re-use or storage.

Note: Update the system, once the tag is removed or re-used.