A marker stick for sheep is a crayon-like stick for quickly putting a temporary colour mark on the wool; a marking spray does the same, but faster and over a larger area, including on the short coat of cattle. Here you will find both, plus the crayons for the ram's raddle harness.
Stick or spray?
- Marker stick: precise and economical, no drips, even in the wind. Raidex has seven colours, from yellow and orange to black, plus twist-up sticks in two colours.
- Spray: fast with a large group and easy to see from a distance. Kerbl Topmarker comes in blue, green, red and violet; there is also a marking spray for livestock.
- Raddle crayon: no handwork, the ram marks by himself. The four colours of Raidex crayons click into a nylon raddle harness.
Using colours cleverly
Agree on fixed colours, then you do not need to write anything down to know what a mark means. For example: red for treated, blue for sold, a stripe on the head for a ewe with twins. With the raddle harness, you work from light to dark and change colour every cycle of the ewe, about every 17 days.
Note
A colour mark is temporary and does not replace an ear tag. Mark on a dry coat; paint adheres less well to wet wool. Use products intended for animals, not ordinary spray paint.
Advice on the tupping season and neck collars is in sheep marking. For what comes after tupping, see lambing; more for the flock in everything for your sheep.
Frequently asked questions
Which marker stick for sheep?
Raidex marker sticks are made for sheep and come in seven colours. For a large group, a spray is faster.
Can I also use marking spray on cows?
Yes, Kerbl Topmarker and the livestock marking spray are suitable for cattle. Spray onto a dry coat.
How long does a mark stay visible?
That differs per product, weather and coat. Count on it being temporary; for permanent identification, use ear tags or a neck collar.