NSA answers FAQ on sheep EID rule changes

Sheep EID tagging rule changes came into force on 1 January 2015, but many farmers remain confused. Farmers Weekly speaks to the National Sheep Association for clarification.

Q. What are the rule changes that came in to affect on 1 January 2015?

A. Ewes and rams: UK Sheep farmers selling ewes and rams born before 2010 are no longer exempt from individually identifying the animals on movement records, unless they are going directly to slaughter or to a red market.

Lambs: Farmers in England cannot use non-EID tags for lambs and must use a single EID slaughter tag in lambs not being retained for breeding. Lambs born before this date can still have a non-EID tag and there is no requirement to retag these animals.

Use of the non-EID slaughter tag is still permitted in Wales until 1 January 2016, but the NSA urges sheep keepers in Wales to be very careful about the tagging decisions they make in 2015.

See also: Recording with EID boosts flock performance

Q. Are farmers having to record anything differently as a result?

A. There is no difference in recording for lambs identified with an EID slaughter tag, but when ewes from the historic flock are moved to anywhere other than an abattoir or red market, it can no longer be a batch movement; individual ewe numbers have to be recorded.

Q. What are the potential pitfalls of the rule changes? Where are farmers being caught out?

A. Lambs: Welsh farmers have been advised to “use up” their non-EID slaughter tags this year, but if they are selling store lambs in Wales or England, an EID slaughter tag should be used.

Ewes: Some markets will insist older ewes carry EID tags; check conditions of sale carefully before taking ewes in. If older ewes are retagged with EID tags, this must be recorded in the flock register.

Q. Is there a need for farmers to invest in EID-reading equipment?

A. No. Pre-2010 ewes and rams moving directly to slaughter can move as a batch, and older animals with EID tags can be read by marts approved as central point recording centres (CPRC). However, the onus is on the farmer to keep his records correct, not for the CPRC to provide the correct information. Always check the eartag information before adding it to your records.

Q. Why have the changes come in?

A. The option to use non-EID slaughter tags and to record movements of older ewes and rams as a batch were both derogations won from the EU when EID rules were originally introduced across Europe. The UK was unique to getting those derogations. Now the derogation for older animals has expired, England has stopped the use of the non-EID slaughter tag and Wales is in the process of doing so.