Livestock Identification and Traceability : Sheep And Goats

The Sheep And Goats (Records, Identification And Movement) (Scotland) Order 2009

Identification Of Animals After 31 December 2009

A keeper of sheep and goats born on or after 31 December 2009, or an animal born before 31 December 2009 which does not bear a means of identification applied under any other United Kingdom order or regulation must identify the animal by means of an approved identification device containing a micro-chip. The number in the microchip can be read by using an electronic reader.

Animal Categories

The four categories are as follows:

• Fully EID identified animals - sheep born or identified after 31 December 2009 and kept for breeding or beyond 12 months of age. These sheep must have two identifiers, one of which must be electronic.
• Double identified - goats born or identified after 31 December 2009 and kept for breeding or beyond 12 months of age. These goats must have two identifiers.
• Slaughter animals (lambs or kids) - animals born or identified after 31 December 2009 and intended for slaughter within 12 months of birth. These animals must have one tag - an 'electronic slaughter tag' for lambs and a 'non-electronic slaughter tag' for kids. Both types of slaughter tags contain only the flockmark or herdmark.
• The historic flock or herd or historic animals- sheep or goats born or identified before 31 December 2009. These animals will already be identified and do not need to be electronically identified.

The Identifiers

Identifiers are applied on the holding of birth. The type of identifier used depends on whether the animal is a fully EID identified animal (one that will not be slaughtered before it is 12 months of age) or a slaughter animal (one that is intended for slaughter within 12 months of birth). Identifiers can be ear tags, tattoos, pastern tags (a band around the animal's lower leg) or boluses (an identifier in a container that is swallowed and stays in the animal's stomach).

Identification And Numbers For Fully EID Identified Animals

Animals born or identified after 31 December 2009 and kept for breeding or beyond 12 months of age must be identified with two identifiers. One identifier must be electronic and the other a conventional. Both identifiers must have the same individual number - a zero then your unique flockmark followed by a five-digit animal number.

The EID identifier in Scotland can be any colour, however, we recommend that you use yellow to follow the position in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who have reserved this colour for EID identifiers. Replacement identifiers applied off the holding of birth must be red (including replacement EID identifiers)

If a bolus is used, the non-electronic ear or pastern tag must be black. Black tags may only be used with a bolus.The same letters and numbers will be printed on both identifiers and be programmed into the electronic chip. This means you can read the number physically or with an electronic reader.

A tattoo can go across both ears (UK code and flock number on one ear and the individual animal number on the other).

Time Limits For Identification Of Animals

Nine months from the date of birth in the case of an animal kept in extensive or free range farming conditions (animals which are most kept outdoors overnight) and within six months from the date of birth in the case of any other animal. In any event the animals must be correctly identified before being moved off the holding on which it was born.

Identification Of Animals Intended For Slaughter

Where animals are intended for slaughter before the age of 12 months and are not intended for live export, only a single eartag is required as a means of identification. The eartag must contain the letters 'UK', the flock/herdmark into which the animal is born.

Any animal not slaughtered before the age of 12 months or is intended for live export, must be upgraded to full EID as detailed in above table

Identification Of Animals Identified Before 31 December 2009

Where an animal is identified with an existing official eartag, which contains a unique number no further identification, is required.

Where an animal has been identified with an existing official eartag which does not contain a unique number, it must be identified with two means of identification before leaving the holding. If the animal is still on its holding of birth two means of identification (one must be electronic) must be applied to the animal. if the animal is not on its holding of birth, there must be two red replacement tags - the information contained on the replacement tags must be cross-referenced with the existing eartag information in the holding register

Identification Of Animals Not On Their Holding Of Birth And Not Identified

Where an animal which is not identified before 31 December 2009 and is not on its holding of birth, it must be identified with two red replacement tags before it leaves the holding.

Reserved Colours For Tags Used For Identification Purposes

Black: for ear or pastern tags where the sheep has an EID bolus
Red:for replacement tags only (including EID identifiers)

Replacements

The replacement rules are the same for full EID and those in the historic flock. You have two options when you need to replace a lost tag, these are:

• Replacements Using The Original Number (One Tag Lost):
  Here you apply a replacement tag which has the same identification number as the original and then record that a replacement has been made in the holding register. You would need to order the identical replacement tag from your supplier.
• Replacements Using New Numbers (One Tag Lost):
  Here you would remove the remaining tag and apply two new matching identifiers from your stock of tags. If the animal was born or identified after 31 December 2009 and kept for breeding or beyond 12 months of age one of the identifiers must be electronic. If not on holding of birth - the replacements must be red. If the animal was identified before 31 December 2009, replacing with an EID identifier is optional. You must cross reference the old number and the new number in the holding register, except for an animal from the historic flock still on the holding of birth, where no cross referencing is necessary
• Where Both Tags Are Lost:
  You can apply two identical (like for like) tags if you know the number of the original tags  or apply two new tags (must be red if the animal is not on the holding of birth)  and  cross reference in the holding register if you know the original tag number . If you do not know the animal's identification number, you must still record that a replacement has been applied in the holding register.
• Replacement Tag - Slaughter Animals:
  If the animal is not on the holding of birth, the replacement tag must be red. Where the original flockmark is known this should be cross referenced in the holding register. Where you do not know the flockmark, you should record that a replacement has been applied in the holding register.
• Replacements - Where The Sheep Has An EID Bolus:
  If the sheep has a bolus as an electronic identifier, any replacement ear tag or pastern tag must have the same animal identification number and must be black. If the bolus fails or cannot be read the animal should be re-identified using an EID tag or EID pastern - you should not insert a new bolus.
• Replacements - Where The Sheep Has A Tattoo:
  If the sheep has a tattoo and loses its other identifier, the replacement electronic identifier must have the same number as the tattoo. However, should the tattoo become illegible it should be replaced with a conventional ear tag. In the event of a means of identification becoming lost or illegible, a keeper must replace it as soon as possible after the original identification mark is removed, or is discovered to be lost or illegible, but in any event must be done no later than 28 days after it was removed, or discovered to be lost or illegible and before it leaves the holding (if sooner).

Contact

For further information, please Contact Consumer and Environmental Services