Sheep and goat EID changes: Felicity Stockwell explains how Smallholders will reap the most benefit. (From Smallholder)

Sheep and goat EID changes: Felicity Stockwell explains how Smallholders will reap the most benefit.

1:40pm Tuesday 22nd September 2009

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No need for electronic recording equipment Defra has put forward proposals to the Commission for Central Point Recording, which were adopted on July 14 regarding the requirement for shepherds and goat keepers to acquire an EID “reader” for their farm or holding. The financial rescue implications are greatest for the smallholder, particularly if the animals are few in number. An EID reader can cost several hundreds of pounds to buy. Their need to identify their animals electronically around the holding is not an issue as all EID tags have written information as well as a hidden microchip.

The wider picture for the UK sheep industry suggests that something in the region of between seven and eighteen million pounds will be saved on electronic recording equipment to individual farms (these are Defra’s figures-the gap between these figures of eleven million takes some swallowing!) Implementation The new arrangements mean that when EID is implemented from December 31st - (all stock born after this date must carry EID tags) - the electronic recording of these animals will be carried out at a Central Recording Point. This means markets and abattoirs essentially. This individual information will then be passed back to the keeper for entry into their holding register. This will allow keepers to continue using the standard batch movement documents as before.

You will still be required to manually input all movements on and of the holding in the Holding Register.

EID regulations. They really do apply to you.

As from December 31 all sheep and goats must be tagged with an electronic tag. These tags display all the usual information as before but also contain a microchip with the same information stored within. Tags can be obtained from your usual supplier and will cost between 70p and £2.50 each depending on type and information printed on them.

If the sheep or goat is intended for the food chain before it is 12 months old, then this one EID tag is sufficient.

If the sheep or goat is to kept over 12 months of age it must have a tag on each ear.

The second tag does not have to be an EID tag, but it must have the exact same information bar the microchip as the EID tag.

If you are unsure whether or not the animal will be kept over 12 months then you do not have to second tag until it reaches this age.

The information in your holding register must correlate exactly with what stands in your fields! Be warned. bAll sheep and goats, regardless of whether they are pets, pastimes or food products absolutely must be appropriately tagged-it is the law and it protects your animals.

Don’t let them or yourself down and start planning now.

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