Information Technology Notes February 2010
New Sheep EID Rules
New sheep identification and movement recording legislation came into effect from 1 January 2010. This month I want to make you aware of the rules and let you know where you can find out some more detailed information. Please let me stress this is a summary of the new sheep EID rules and you should make yourself familiar with the details on www.dardni.gov.uk/animal-movements-sheep-and-goats
. Further information will be on the website as the system develops.
. Further information will be on the website as the system develops.DARD will issue a guidance booklet with all details to all keepers shortly, together with flock/herd registers and movement document books. A series of information seminars to help explain the new rules on EID will be held shortly in your area, so please keep checking the local press for details.
Identification
For any sheep born or first identified after 31 December 2009, you must apply two yellow identifiers with matching numbers. One must contain an electronic identification (EID) device which will most commonly be an EID tag. These sheep must be identified before nine months of age or before they leave the holding of birth; whichever is sooner.
If a sheep was born and identified properly with green tags on or before 31 December 2009 and at least one green tag remains, no further tags are required. From 1 June 2010 animals will need to be upgraded to EID but only when they move off the holding.. This can be done by applying the next EID tag set before they move. There is no need to cross-reference the new numbers to the old tag numbers.
Replacement Tags
All sheep must be properly identified. If a sheep loses a tag or a tag becomes unreadable, then replacement tags must be applied within 28 days of discovering the lost or unreadable tag.
Full details on the rules on replacing tags will be in the notes for guidance.
Flock Register
An up-to-date flock register must be kept by recording the following;
- Births within seven days of tagging (date of identification of newborn lambs and the tag numbers applied),
- Movements on and off your holding (by recording the movement document serial number) within seven days of movement. Movements to a central point of recording must be recorded within 48 hours.
- Replacement tag details within seven days of replacing tag (new tag number, and old tag number if required),
- Deaths (including the tag number where possible) to be recorded within seven days, and
- Annual inventory result for sheep on holding between 1 and 5 December each year, and return the results to DARD by 5 January
Movement Documents
A movement document must be completed each time you move sheep, including to common grazing, and this must accompany the sheep. If you are moving sheep to a market or abattoir approved as a “central point of recording” you do not need to record the tag numbers on the document, but you will have to get a list from the market or abattoir and keep that list in your flock register.
If you are moving sheep to a farm, or premises not approved as a central point of recording,
record tag numbers of sheep born after 31 December 2009 (this can be done manually or with an EID reader).
While keepers can continue to use a paper flock register, you will also have an excellent opportunity to operate a paperless system of sheep traceability through recording all information on APHIS Online. This will be operational within the next few months. Keepers will need to register for a Government Gateway account if they have not already done so, in order to use APHIS Online. (www.ruralni.gov.uk/aphis)
Although most keepers will not will not have to buy or use EID readers, those wanting to record details such as lambing information, individual weights or vet and medicine treatments can use EID to their advantage to improve the data recording process and improve the management information available. There are many handheld EID readers on the market that can be used in conjunction with computer software to record and manage animal details. Many of these will also link to electronic weigh scales allowing hands free data capture. For more details on EID technology and its uses please visit www.ruralni.gov.uk/eid.
If you want to discuss any of the details in this article in more detail please contact Jason McFerran, IT Technologist, CAFRE on 028 9442 6810 or email jason.mcferran@dardni.gov.uk
