Portable ear tag reader selection guide

Which portable ear tag reader suits your way of working?

Electronic animal registration is becoming an integral part of daily work for an increasing number of livestock farmers. Yet the way in which they work with electronic ear tags varies greatly. Some primarily want to scan animals quickly and efficiently and link them to, for example, a weight measured during a measurement. Others want to record, view or edit additional data immediately. That is why Gallagher has developed various portable ear tag readers, ensuring there is a suitable solution for every way of working.

Choosing the right reader depends not only on what is technically possible, but above all on what you need in practice. Do you mainly work with an app, a weigh scale or an existing software package? Or do you want to be able to manage more data directly on the reader itself? By clarifying this starting point, it quickly becomes clear which ear tag reader best suits your business.

From scanning to full data management

The HR0 has been developed with one clear focus: scanning EID ear tags quickly and reliably and sending the data directly to the system you use. The reader has no internal memory and does not store scanned ear tags itself. To record data, you connect the HR0 to, for example, the Gallagher Animal Performance app, a Gallagher weigh scale or another recording device. This makes the HR0 particularly suitable for situations where speed, simplicity and direct connectivity are key. The HR0 is therefore not necessarily a simple entry-level model, but rather a targeted choice for those who want to work efficiently within an existing system.

The HR4 builds on this by also storing EID numbers and animal data on the device itself. During scanning, you can record pre-set characteristics, such as breed, sex, condition score or pregnancy status. You can also view animal history and sort animals based on pre-set groups. This makes the HR4 suitable for situations where you not only want to scan, but also want to record and use important data immediately whilst working with the animals.

The HR5 goes one step further and offers comprehensive data management on the device itself. With the large colour screen and alphanumeric keypad, you can not only view and record data, but also edit it. You choose which characteristics you want to record and can capture up to nine traits per animal. This makes the HR5 suitable for users who want maximum control over recording, editing and data collection whilst working with animals.

HR0	HR4	HR5
Primary function
Scanning	Scanning, Recording	Scanning, Recording, Editing
Number of animal characteristics to record
0	3	9
Scan range
up to 35 cm	up to 33 cm	up to 33 cm
Internal storage
No	Yes	Yes
Edit data on device
No	Yes	Yes
Enter ear tag numbers directly into, for example, Excel or a form
Yes	Yes	Yes
Alfageneric Keyboard
No	No	Yes