Sheep & Goats
The Northern Ireland Sheep and Goat Identification and Movement System (NISGIMS) was introduced in December 2005 and replaced all existing arrangements for sheep and goats. This system was introduced in order to comply with Council Regulation (EC) 21/2004. The Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order (Northern Ireland) 2005 (S.R. 535), as amended, was introduced on the 1 December 2005.
The objective of the system is to ensure full traceability of all sheep and goats in Northern Ireland, particularly in the event of a major disease outbreak.
The main features of the system are as follows:
- All flock/herd keepers must register with Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (DARD) and obtain a flock number.
- All tags must bear the following - UK 9, new flock number and individual animal identifier.
- All lambs born on or after 9 July 2005 must be tagged, in the left ear, within 9 months of birth or before leaving the holding whichever is the earliest.
- All sheep born before 9 July 2005 must be tagged with a green tag in the left ear before leaving the holding.
- All animals coming on to a holding must be tagged in the right ear within 12 months of its arrival or on exit from the holding which ever is the earliest.
- Where an animal has lost all its tags an orange tag must be attached to its left ear. Any animal with an orange tag cannot go for export.
- A self-written Movement Document Book (which replaced the Sheep Licence). Copies of these movement documents must be sent to the Divisional Veterinary Office (DVO’s).
- A Flock Register which will record the details of sheep/goats on your farm including births, deaths and movements on to and off the holding. Details of the annual inventory must be recorded in the Flock Register
- An Annual Inventory return which flock-keepers are required to undertake between 1-5 December each year and return to DARD by 5 January of all sheep and goats on their holding.
Guidance for Tagging
Movements |
How Sheep/Goats are tagged |
What to do if tag is lost |
|---|---|---|
First Move |
Green tag (Natal Tag) in left ear within 9 months of birth or before leaving the holding. | Replace with next green tag in sequence. |
Second Move |
Green tag (Movement Tag) in right ear on leaving the second holding or if kept more than 12 months in second holding | If Natal Tag lost and a Movement Tag has been applied – no replacement natal tag needed. If Movement Tag lost – Apply replacement tag – next green tag in sequence. If both Natal and Movement Tags lost – Apply Total Replacement Tag (Orange). Sheep bearing orange tags are not eligible for export. |
Third Move |
Green tag (Movement Tag) in right ear if desired for ease of recording on movement documents (Record first and last number in sequence) | As above. |
Exports to GB (Slaughter sheep/ goats – intended for slaughter within 12 months of birth) |
At least one Green tag/s (Natal or Movement Tag). | Replace with next green tag in sequence. |
Exports to GB - Breeding sheep/ goats tagged before mid- January 2008 |
At least one Green tag/s (Natal or Movement Tag). | Replace with next green tag in sequence. |
Exports to GB - Breeding sheep/ goats tagged from mid-January 2008 onwards |
Two tags with the same number (one tag in each ear) Additional tags can be applied at the point of export and can be either two new identical tags or one tag which is specifically produced to match the existing green tag in the animals ear. In either case, the new tag produced for export should be blue. If two new tags are applied they must be cross-referenced with the existing natal or movement tag in the flock register. |
Replace with next tag/s in sequence. |
Exports to ROI |
Green tag (Natal Tag) & Blue tag (Blue Export Tag) in left ear. | Replace with next tag in sequence. |
Exports to other Member States or Third Countries |
All animals going for intra-community or third country trade (excluding ROI) must be tagged with two tags bearing the same number. One tag must be the green natal tag and the second tag must be a blue export tag, also attached to the animal’s left ear. This tag must be applied at the holding or origin or at a holding immediately prior to consignment to the export assembly centre. Both tags must be identical, i.e. all letters and numbers on both tags must be the same. It will be necessary to order a blue tag specifically made for this purpose. | Replace with duplicate Blue Export Tag bearing the same number. |