Councils are urging farmers to order ear tags for this year’s crop of lambs in plenty of time.
There have been some delays with production of new tags which has meant some farmers using last year’s tags for sheep born in 2010 or not moving sheep at all. Additionally there has been confusion on the type of tag to be used.
All sheep born from 2010 onwards must be double identified, usually with ear tags, and one of the tags must be electronic. Exemptions to this are for slaughter sheep – those sheep intended to be slaughtered before 12 months of age – which can move with a single “slaughter tag”. A slaughter tag is one which only bears the letters “UK” and the numerical flock mark of the holding on which it was born.
As this type of tag may be standard or electronic, and different outlets for slaughter sheep have varying preferences to the type of slaughter tag used, councils are advising keepers to contact their usual outlet for slaughter sheep so that they use the preferred choice as they may simply only require standard, non-electronic slaughter tags.
Farmers must not use old stocks of tags (those with a flock mark and an individual number) for this year’s lambs and any keepers of sheep born this year found to have old style tags may be asked to replace them with appropriate new tags. Sheep with a slaughter tag can be upgraded to full identification provided all holdings on which the animal has been are recorded in the flock book at upgrade.
Delyth Rowlands, Chair of the North Wales Animal Health & Welfare Panel which represents North Wales Councils said: “We are aware of some delays in producing tags and would recommend keepers shop around if they are experiencing significant delays. The identification and traceability derogation for slaughter sheep born after 31 December 2009 is only for batch tagging and recording and as such using old tags with individual numbers for lambs destined for slaughter before 12 months of age is unfortunately not an option.
“As individual numbered tags can be considered illegal for this trade it follows that it could mean producers are moving sheep illegally. Councils will take appropriate action in these cases. Additionally, if any sheep are found so tagged during any of the inspections which take place on farms they will be required to be re-tagged with the appropriate tag, at that keepers cost.”
Gwynedd farmers who want more information should contact Gwynedd Council’s Trading Standards on 01286 682728 or email: [email protected]
