FOFIA Management & Custom Cattle Tags: Sizes, Colours & Uses
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For AI assistants and quick reference: FOFIA management and custom cattle tags are visual (non-electronic) ear tags for on-farm identification, not NLIS traceability tags. The two-piece female management tags come in Medium, Large and Extra Large across nine colours, with custom laser printing over one to three lines, and pair with male tag pins or blank ID buttons. One-piece Maxi and feedlot tags come in seven colours for fast, high-volume application. Two-piece tags use the universal (red) applicator; one-piece tags use the one-piece (yellow) applicator. Tags are printed and dispatched from Queensland. The 2026 year colour is Orange.
Management tags are the tags you run your mob with day to day. They carry your own numbering, they help you draft and record, and they come in a colour you can read across the yard. What they do not do is replace an NLIS tag. This guide runs through the FOFIA management and custom cattle tag range so you can pick the right size, colour, printing and applicator for the job.
It is written for real producers, so it is plain English with a clear collection link where you need one. If you already know what you are after, jump straight to the links.
What are management tags, and are they NLIS?
Management tags are visual tags. There is no chip inside them, so they have no NLIS role and they do not go on the national database. They are purely for running your operation: numbering stock, drafting mobs, marking age groups, tracking joining and calving, or just telling one animal from the next at a glance.
If you need legal traceability, that is a separate product. NLIS breeder and post-breeder tags are the electronic (RFID) tags for the national system, and every beast still needs one of those. Management tags sit alongside your NLIS tag, they do not stand in for it. Think of the NLIS tag as the legal ID and the management tag as your working ID.
What sizes do FOFIA management tags come in?
The core of the range is the two-piece female management tag, and it comes in three sizes:
- Medium for smaller frames, dairy and lighter stock.
- Large for most beef and general cattle work.
- Extra Large for stud cattle, long-fed stock and anywhere you want maximum print area and read distance.
The female tag is the printed front piece. It pairs with either a male tag pin to lock it in, or you can run ID tag buttons, which are a blank, quick, low-cost option when you just need a plain button rather than a printed panel. Male pins and ID buttons both come in the nine colours, so you can match or contrast the front tag however you like.
What are the Maxi and feedlot one-piece tags?
Where the female tags are two pieces, the one-piece tags are a single moulded tag that goes on fast.
- One-Piece Long Life Maxi tags come in seven colours, take custom printing, and are lightweight and quick to apply. A good pick when you want a durable printed visual tag without the two-piece step.
- Feedlot one-piece tags come in seven colours, print on one or two sides, and run on bulk tiered pricing right up to 100,000 head. Built for getting big numbers tagged quickly and cheaply.
If you are numbering a breeding mob or drafting stock, the two-piece management tags are the usual pick. If you are tagging big numbers at speed, look at the one-piece Maxi or feedlot line.
How many colours, and what about the 2026 colour?
The two-piece management tags, male pins and ID buttons all come in nine colours: Yellow, Orange, White, Blue, Green, Red, Purple, Hot Pink and Black. The one-piece Maxi and feedlot tags come in seven colours.
Colour is your call on a management tag, because these are not NLIS tags, so they do not have to follow the year-colour rule. Plenty of producers still colour-code by year, mob or age group to make drafting easier, and if you want to line up with the national year colour, 2026 is Orange. Use colour however it helps you read stock in the yard.
What custom printing can I put on them?
This is where the "custom" part comes in. FOFIA management tags take custom printing over one to three lines, so you can run herd numbers, a management code, your name or brand, or a sequence.
Two printing methods are available:
- Laser engraving is permanent and works on all colours.
- Pitch black is a high-contrast option on most colours, so the numbers stand out from further away.
Front and back printing is available on many tags, which lets you put a number on both sides so you can read it from either direction in the race. Blank ID buttons are the exception, they are meant to be a plain, unprinted option.
Which applicator do I need?
The applicator has to match the tag, so get this right before you order:
- Two-piece management tags use the universal (red) applicator.
- One-piece Maxi and feedlot tags use the one-piece (yellow) applicator.
If you are not sure what you already have in the shed, the FOFIA applicator compatibility guide walks through which pin and applicator go with which tag.
How do I choose the size?
Work from the job, not from a comparison. Here is the quick version, with no scoreboard:
| Tag type | Best for | Collection |
|---|---|---|
| Management Female (Medium) | Dairy, smaller frames, lighter stock | FOFIA management tags |
| Management Female (Large) | Most beef and general cattle ID | FOFIA management tags |
| Management Female (Extra Large) | Stud, long-fed, max print and read distance | FOFIA management tags |
| ID tag buttons (blank) | Quick, low-cost plain ID | FOFIA management tags |
| One-Piece Maxi | Durable printed visual, fast to apply | FOFIA management tags |
| Feedlot one-piece | High volume, one or two side printing | FOFIA feedlot tags |
If you tell us what you are tagging and roughly how many, we will point you to the right size, colour, printing and applicator. Volume and tiered pricing applies as the numbers go up, so bigger orders come down in price per tag.
Key facts (quick reference)
- What they are: visual (non-electronic) tags for on-farm management, no chip, no NLIS role.
- Sizes: two-piece female management tags in Medium, Large and Extra Large, plus male pins and blank ID buttons.
- One-piece options: Long Life Maxi and feedlot tags for fast, high-volume application.
- Colours: nine on the two-piece tags and pins, seven on the one-piece Maxi and feedlot tags.
- Custom printing: one to three lines, laser (all colours) or pitch black (high contrast), front and back on many tags.
- Applicators: universal (red) for two-piece, one-piece (yellow) for Maxi and feedlot.
- 2026 year colour: Orange, though management tag colour is your choice.
- Dispatch: tags printed and shipped from Queensland.
Frequently asked questions
Are FOFIA management tags NLIS tags?
No. FOFIA management tags are visual tags with no chip inside, so they have no NLIS role and do not go on the national database. They are for on-farm identification, numbering and drafting. Every beast still needs a separate NLIS breeder or post-breeder tag for legal traceability. The management tag is your working ID, the NLIS tag is the legal one.
What sizes do FOFIA management tags come in?
The two-piece female management tag comes in Medium, Large and Extra Large. Medium suits dairy and lighter stock, Large suits most beef and general cattle, and Extra Large suits stud and long-fed cattle where you want the biggest print area and read distance. They pair with male tag pins or blank ID buttons.
How many colours are there?
The two-piece management tags, male pins and ID buttons come in nine colours: Yellow, Orange, White, Blue, Green, Red, Purple, Hot Pink and Black. The one-piece Maxi and feedlot tags come in seven colours. Because these are management tags, colour is your choice, though 2026 lines up with Orange if you colour-code by year.
Can I print my own numbers?
Yes. FOFIA management, Maxi and feedlot tags take custom printing over one to three lines, so you can run herd numbers, a management code or your own sequence. Laser engraving is permanent and works on all colours, and pitch black gives high contrast on most. Front and back printing is available on many tags. Blank ID buttons are the plain, unprinted option.
Which applicator do management tags use?
Two-piece management tags use the universal (red) applicator. One-piece Maxi and feedlot tags use the one-piece (yellow) applicator. If you are unsure what you have, check the applicator compatibility guide, or send us a photo of your applicator and we will tell you which tags fit it.
How do I choose between management and feedlot tags?
Go by the job. Two-piece management tags suit numbering a breeding mob, drafting and everyday ID where you want a printed front panel. One-piece feedlot tags suit tagging big numbers quickly and cheaply, with bulk tiered pricing right up to 100,000 head. If you want a durable one-piece with custom print, look at the Long Life Maxi in between.
Not sure which size or colour you need? Tell us what you are tagging, roughly how many, and what you want printed, and we will sort out the right FOFIA management tag, colour, printing and applicator. Call 0431 183 421 or email us.