Sheep farmers reminded over new tagging rules

Aug 6 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

THE National Sheep Association is seriously concerned that many sheep farmers are not fully aware of the new double tagging rules which came into force at the start of the year.

These regulations require sheep born in 2008 and not intended for slaughter under 12 months of age to be double tagged either by the age of nine months if extensively reared or when they leave the holding of birth.

With the seasonal sales of breeding sheep just starting and the sales of gimmer ewe lambs just around the corner the first real tests of whether sheep farmers are correctly identifying their animals are now with the industry. The new rules state that sheep and goats which are not intended for slaughter within the UK by 12 months of age need to be double tagged. All other animals can still be single tagged, as can all animals identified before January 11, 2008, with an official UK tag.

NSA chief executive Peter Morris said: “No-one in the sheep industry is happy that we now have to double tag our sheep that have been born in 2008 and which are not intended for slaughter as lambs. This adds cost and hassle to sheep producers at a busy time of the year and it is very difficult to understand what it achieves in terms of improving traceability.

“However, we are where we are and as such NSA believes it is right that everything possible is done to highlight to farmers what the new rules mean and what they might have to do differently from previous years in terms of identifying their sheep as they leave the holding of birth. This year is a critical one for all sheep farmers but particularly those who sold breeding sheep for very poor prices last year due to foot-and-mouth restrictions and bluetongue problems.

“The importance of having successful autumn breeding sheep sales this year cannot be overstated and it would be a tragedy if any sheep farmer missed out on a good trade because the sheep had to return home due to incorrect identification. The NSA would call on all sheep farmers to just take the time to make sure they have read the rules or contact industry organisations like NSA to which they belong for more information. Please don’t do this as a last- minute thing either as tag manufacturers cannot guarantee to get deliveries out at very short notice.”

Mr Morris said that the NSA would ask the authorities to try to help farmers who might have made an innocent mistake rather than to always seek to punish.