Sheep Tagging Derogation

Producers are being urged to ensure they are following the sheep identification rules. A week of farm and market inspection is expected this month by EU officials before they decide whether to extend the UK's current derogation on double tagging, which runs out in June. Farmers must ensure their flock registers are up-to-date and be familiar with the tagging rules including the 'R' and 'S' tags - a brief reminder:

• All sheep must have a Defra approved eartag in one ear before the animal leaves the birth holding (Holding of birth tag). For animals regularly housed this should be fitted within 6 months of birth otherwise the tag should be fitted within 9 months.
• Replacement 'R' tags are red. Lost or illegible tags must be replaced within 28 days of being noticed. If the animal is still on its birth holding the keeper can replace it with an identical tag or another "Holding of Birth" tag with a different number. If the animal is not on its birth holding, the keeper should replace it with an identical tag or with a red 'R' tag.
• Before an animal leaves any holding it should have a tag with the flock or herd mark of that holding. 'S' tags are used when an animal moves off a holding which is not its birth holding. The tag bears the letter 'S' followed by the flock/herd mark of the holding it is about to leave, it does not have an individual number. Once an animal has 3 official tags no more can be applied for welfare reasons, any further movements must be recorded in the flock register and on movement documents using the full individual identification number of the animal. This can also be used if the keeper does not want to apply an 'S' tag for an earlier movement.
• Further rules can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/idmove/ sheep-goats/id.htm

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Website: www.shearwell.co.uk; Email: sales@shearwell.co.uk

National Sheep Association

Letter dated 15th February, 2006

To
All Breed Society Secretaries
Regional Secretaries

I write to give an update on recent discussions NSA has held with Defra over issues connected to the new tagging rules that have come into force as a result of EU Regulation 21/2004. I know that several breed societies have been in communication with Defra over these problems and so, if this information is already known to you, then please accept my apologies.

The most recent meeting place on February 7th, 2006 where many of the issues that breed societies and individuals have raised with NSA were discussed. These included:

1. Consecutive numbering
2. Management information on official tags
3. Positioning of official number on tag
4. Using up of existing tag supplies
5. Export tags

The meeting was useful if not a little difficult in places. I will deal with each issue in the order it appears above.

Consecutive Numbering
21/2004 does not require tags to be ordered in consecutive number order. The regulation is only concerned with ensuring that individual numbers are not duplicated. This was agreed by Defra.
Defra took a cost-based decision to design the new ETAS software so that it could only deal with consecutive numbering and would not be able to deal with alternative requests. It was made quite clear to us that budgets would prevent reconsideration of this position unless there was a considerable uproar from the whole industry for such a change.
Defra did confirm that, once a number has been allocated by ETAS then it cannot be reallocated again as part of a normal sequential tag order. Any numbers ordered from ETAS and then cancelled cannot be reallocated.
The problems this presents were recognised by Defra and the following suggestions were offered as solutions:

1. making better use of different tag colours for year identification
2. where there is more than one flock (breed) on the same holding, the keeper could consider obtaining a separate official flock number for each breed

Overall this is not a satisfactory conclusion, although some progress has been made and there are solutions in this information for most situations. I see little chance of making further significant progress.

Management Information on Tags
Defra confirmed that there is absolutely no reason why the official tag cannot carry management information as well as the official number. However, any management information cannot interfere with the official number. Any tag manufacturer refusing to put management information on the official tag cannot legitimately hide behind the regulation as an excuse for not doing so. It is my understanding that the official lettering on a tag must be at least 5 mm, so, as long as any management information allows for that, then it should be acceptable.
Management information on the official tag can be printed before or after the official numbering as long as it does not disrupt the sequence of official number.
Where flag tags were used, Defra said that the official number must be clearly visible and should be on the front of the tag when viewing the animal from the front.
Details on size of official lettering and other information can be found in the new PAS 66 tag standards as published in 2005.

Flock or individual number on top of tags
Defra confirmed that in the case of loop tags they did not mind whether the individual number or flock number was on the top of the ear. They understood why different keepers might require different options. If keepers are unhappy putting the tag in upside down to achieve this result then they should ask their tag manufacturer to print the tags 'back to front' if required. Defra confirmed that, no matter which end of the loop the numbering started from, it must follow the sequence of flock number then individual number.

Using up old tags
Defra confirmed that there is no time limit for using up supplies of existing tags as long as they are legal; i.e. flock number followed by individual number.

Export tags
Defra confirmed that as far as they were concerned sheep for export must either have two identical tags or a UK tag and an 'X' tag. The onus was on the vendor to ensure that the requirements of the country of importation were met. It was the case that some countries would insist on two identical tags and others would be happy with an 'X' tag.

I hope this offers some clarity on some outstanding issues. NSA will keep lobbying for further practicality to be brought into the tagging regulations. If your members raise further issues which you think NSA can help with, then please let me know.

[Signed] Peter Morris
Chief Executive

National Sheep Association is an organisation which represents the views and interests of sheep producers throughout the U.K.
NSA is funded by its membership of sheep farmers and its activities involve it in every aspect of the sheep industry

A company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England. Registration No. 37818. Registered Charity No. 249255.

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CONFUSION OVER NEW TAGGING SYSTEM.

If we are obliged to accept constantly changing rules, each with a fresh set of copious guidance notes, we wouldn’t it be good if everyone involved received the same message? When ordering ear tags this year I wanted, as in the past, to include my pedigree flock number on the same ear tag as my individual identifier and UK flock number, only to be told by three tag manufacturers that this was no longer permitted under the new rules.

THIS IS NOT THE CASE: the Livestock Identification Office of DEFRA have assured me that management information can be included on the same tag, even on the same side, as the individual identifier, as long as it is separated in some way (by a gap, slash or asterisk, for example). This information should have been communicated to tag manufacturers by the end of January, so if you have any problems when ordering tags, tell your tag suppliers to contact Barry Austin of the Livestock Identification Office on 1207 9046094/5.

Sheep Topics with Alan West
Reprinted with permission from the South East Farmer

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