Barcode Sheep

Last weekend was busy for us, barcoding sheep on Saturday, hauling hay on Sunday. 

The ewes will begin lambing towards the end of August, to help identify them out in the pasture we identify them by spraying a barcode on them.

With four different colors, reading from front to back, there are 256 color combinations that can be painted on their backs (4 to the 4th power).  I use a Google spreadsheet to record sheep information, their tag number and their associated barcode.  RGPO for example is Red Green Purple Orange.  With the spreadsheet sorting function, the lists can be ordered alphanumerically by barcode color or tag number, so identifying a particular sheep in the field is much easier, especially for sheep that won't stay still enough to read their ear tag.  The spreadsheet can be accessed via the computer in the house, or via the smartphone when out in the field. Deworming, vaccination and weight information are also recorded in the spreadsheet. 

In addition to barcode application,  we gave the ewes their CD-T booster vaccination shot and dewormed those needing it.

Joy is recording information in the computer and telling Jackie the barcode to apply.  Jeffrey is checking the eye color of the sheep to determine if deworming is required. 

Hero and Heidi are doing well with the sheep, here they are early in the morning lounging with the sheep.