Because our sheep are double registered in both
the US and UK registry I get info on the UK
tagging requirements. Thought folks here might
find them interesting.
As there have been some more changes to the above
subject in recent months I thought it might be a
useful time for a summary of the requirements.
All sheep have to be identified with an approved
tag showing the UK number and its individual
number. Approved tags are available from a whole
range of approved manufacturers/suppliers and a
list follows at the end of this section. Any of
these manufacturers should be able to advise you
on the requirements of the new regulations. In
theory, sheep also should be double tagged but
the UK still have a derogation specific to this
section which means we don't have to! A final
decision on this aspect will be made at the end
of this month or the beginning of April and the
indications are good that we will be able to
continue with only single tagging.
A tag must be used:
� before a sheep is first moved from its holding of birth or
� before it is six months old, if it is farmed
intensively (housed overnight) or
� before it is nine months old, if it is farmed
extensively (not housed overnight);
whichever is soonest.
As you will know if you have ordered any tags
recently, the new Ear Tag Allocation System
(ETAS) came into effect on 5 December last year.
Ear tag allocation system
All sheep ear tag numbers will be allocated by
ETAS, which is a government-run computer system.
The system limits you to only being able to order
numbers in sequence and it remembers what you
last ordered so your second order will follow on
from your first. So be careful about the first
number you ask for as you will be obliged to
continue from that point for ever more! The
ordering is done by your tag manufacturer.
(Apparently 2.4 million tags were ordered in the
first 7 weeks of operation.)
The NSA has received quite a few complaints about
the need for numbers to be consecutive and they
have raised the matter with Defra. The
regulation itself is only concerned with ensuring
that individual numbers are not duplicated and
does not actually require consecutive numbering
but 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 the NSA that budgets would prevent
reconsideration of this position unless there was
a considerable uproar from the whole industry for
such a change. 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:
a) making better use of different tag colours for year identification;
b) 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.
Identifying older animals
* Before 1 January 2001, sheep did not need to be identified.
* Between 1 January 2001 and February 2003, sheep
were identified with a UK mark made up of the
letters 'UK' followed by the flock number but no
individual number.
If you have one of these sheep on your farm and
you are moving it off farm the table below
explains what tag you will need to use:
OFFICIAL REQUIREMENTS Sheep still on holding of
birth Sheep not on holding of birth
No UK tag (born before January 2001) UK tag
with individual no. S tag* with individual no.
UK tag without individual ID (born between 2001
and 2003) Another UK tag with individual
no. S tag* with individual no.
* Your manufacturer will be able to explain about the S tag.
Lost tags
Lost tags must be replaced. Please remember
that, from our point of view, the sheep's UK and
individual number is also its pedigree number so
it is always best to replace with an identical
replacement wherever possible.
OFFICIAL REQUIREMENTS Sheep still on holding of
birth Sheep not on holding of birth
If you know the full ID no. Replace with an
identical UK tag or apply another UK tag with a
different individual number Apply an
identical replacement
If you don't know the full ID no. Apply
another UK tag with a different individual
number. Apply an R tag bearing your UK flock
number
The NSA also clarified some further points:
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 the NSA's
understanding that the official lettering on a
tag must be at least 5mm - 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 are 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 size and other information can
be found in the new PAS 66 tag standards as
published in 2005
Flock or individual number on top of tag?
Defra confirmed that in the case of loop tags
they did not mind whether the individual number
of 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.
List Of Defra Approved Tag Manufacturers/Suppliers
--
Eugenie (Oogie) McGuire - oogiem@desertweyr.com
Weyr Associates - Consulting Services
Desert Weyr - CMK Arabian Horses, Black Welsh Mountain Sheep and Pilgrim Geese
http://www.desertweyr.com/
Paonia, CO USA
