Web-based cattle tracing service earns high praise
Web-based cattle tracing service earns high praise
New technology, co-operation and diversification were just
some of the issues identified by the FW livestock team when
it visited AgriVision, held at Stoneleigh, Warks, last week.
Marianne Curtis starts with a look at cattle tracing on-line
CATTLE registration and movement recording has become quicker, easier and cheaper since CTS on-line launched in March, with 15% of passport applications now made using this method.
Speaking at AgriVision, BCMS business development manager Stephen Fenton said CTS on-line was part of a government initiative to make its services more accessible. "Keepers should also be able to make use of CTS information to validate on-farm records and help with running their businesses."
With CTS on-line there is no need to fill in pre-printed passport application forms or post them to BCMS because this can be done via the web-site (www.bcms.gov.uk), said Mr Fenton. "As well as making passport applications and movement recording quicker and easier, there is also less scope for BCMS errors."
So far, 10% of keepers have accessed CTS on-line, said Mr Fenton. "In July, 8% of passports were applied for on-line, this figure has now risen to 15%. Movements have been few this year due to foot-and-mouth, but so far 3% have been reported on-line."
CTS on-line is available to anyone registered with the cattle tracing scheme including producers, markets and abattoirs. Each holding is supplied with a unique identifier and password. "The system can be used to apply for passports, report movements on and off the holding, register the death of an unregistered calf, list cattle on the holding and view individual animals life histories.
"Only data about cattle on your own holding can be accessed, or information on an animal up to when it left your holding."
BCMS has liaised with cattle software suppliers to ensure data can be uploaded from farm management software to CTS on-line or vice-versa to avoid duplication when entering data, said Mr Fenton.
Data entry into CTS on-line is quite simple, he explained. "When applying for a passport, an ear tag number is selected from a drop down menu of unused ear tags. Dam ID and sire ID can also be selected. Breed, sex and date of birth are entered, then the calf is added to a list which can be submitted to BCMS when all passport applications have been entered."
Farmer Focus contributor Andy Guy finds CTS on-line a great time saver. "We moved farm earlier this year from Glos to Notts which involved transferring 147 dairy cattle.
"It would have taken days to fill in movement forms by hand, but using CTS on-line only took about 90 minutes. We also use it for registering births. We have had no incorrect passports since using it, so it appears to eliminate errors."
Mr Guys only complaint is that it is unclear whether casualty stock can be recorded via the system. "We had to put down a heifer on-farm and ended up filling in a paper form as we were unsure whether we could use CTS on-line."
BCMS is keen to receive producer feedback on the system and is already putting suggestions into practice, said Mr Fenton.
Applying for passports and movement recording is quicker on-line, says Stephen Fenton.
CTS ON-LINE
• Processes 15% of passports.
• Quick and easy.
• Can access data for management.