Archive - Wednesday, 15 January 2003


Find by date

Other ways to search

Also look for

Never miss anything again. Sign up for our RSS news feeds and Newsletters.

Now tags for sheep

A TAG or tattoo rule for sheep comes into effect at the beginning of next month.

All sheep or goats born after February 1, or still on the holding on which they were born and not yet marked, will need to be individually identified with a tag or tattoo before they move or within one year of birth, whichever is earliest.

DEFRA is introducing individual identification for sheep and goats for farmers who wish to move their animals through more than three holdings in their life.

The number can be used to help identify individual animals in the event of a disease outbreak.

The individual number does not need to be recorded when an animal moves (except if an animal has exceeded its full complement of official tags, ie UK holding of birth and two 'S' tags).

Keepers wishing to move an animal to more than three holdings will not be allowed to insert an additional S tag. These further movements can only take place by recording the animal's individual identification number.

Keepers of sheep and goats should ensure that they have ordered supplies of ear tags which include an individual identification number, advises DEFRA.

Updated: 10:54 Wednesday, January 15, 2003