New Sheep and Goat Identification Rules

Double tagging for breeding sheep and goats will be introduced in GB early in 2008.
This will mean that all sheep and goats over 12 months of age will require double tags (or one tag and a tattoo). This includes any animal over 12 months of age which is not already officially tagged by January 2008 and any animal born after that date which reaches 12 months of age. Full guidance will be issued by Defra, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Scottish Government after Christmas. In the meantime, some of the main points are:
  • Animals intended for slaughter within the UK before 12 months of age can be single-tagged with a UK tag (as at present).
  • Animals which are not intended for slaughter within the UK before 12 months of age are required to be double tagged (or one tag and one tattoo) with two tags bearing the same identification number.
  • If you keep a single-tagged animal, which has reached 12 months of age, then you must double-tag the animal.
  • Movement tags (S tags), S Baseline and F tags will no longer be required. Therefore, you should only order sufficient stocks to last until January 2008.
  • Lost tags can be replaced with a match up tag bearing the identical number as the lost tag. Alternatively, if the animal is on its birth holding, the keeper can replace it with another UK tag or, if the animal is no longer on its birth holding, with a red replacement tag.

The flock/herd mark should be cross-referenced, if possible, with the flock/herd mark of the lost tag

Summary of NEW legislation

 
 
See our brochure   side1       side2

For further guidance, you should contact the Livestock Helpline at the Rural Payments Agency on Tel: 0845 050 9876 or Ritchey on 01765 689541