Identification of
Texel Sheep in Northern Ireland
DARD Requirements
All sheep presented for sale must have a
DARD approved green tag bearing the new flock
number (e.g. UK9760197) & the individual
6-digit identification number (e.g. 000019).
If the sheep was born on the vendor’s
farm, this tag will be in the left ear. If
the vendor previously purchased it, it should
have a tag from the original flock of birth
in it’s left ear & a tag from the
vendor’s flock in the right ear.
In
April 2006, DARD advised flock keepers that
a year indicator might, if wished, be incorporated
into ear tag numbers for sheep to more easily
identify animals born in a given year, or
for other management purposes. For example,
for lambs born in 2006, individual ear tags
could start from 060001; or for 2007, from
070001, etc.
Texel Sheep Society Requirements
There is a statutory DARD requirement that
sheep leaving your holding must be identified
with your unique UK 6-digit flock mark & a
unique 6-digit number. Additional management
information can be carried on the tag but it
must not interfere with the data required
by DARD.
The Society requires that each lamb in your
Texel flock be identified by its 3-letter
flock code, 2-digit year of birth & unique
individual number e.g. ABC05123. All Texels
should carry the above information in 2 separate
formats e.g. two separate tags on different
ears: tag plus tattoo: tattoo plus bolus
etc.
Options for breeders
There are a number of ways in which you
can comply with both DARD & the Society’s
requirements. The following are examples:
-
1. Tag plus tattoo
Within 7 days of birth insert a tag that
contains the DARD flock mark & the
unique animal identification number on
the male part. You should include your
3-letter Society flock code, 2-digit year
of birth & individual number on the
female part.
By the 15th June tattoo your
3-digit flock mark & 2-digit year of
birth in the lamb’s
right ear & the individual number (the
same number as on your initial tag) in the
left ear. The Society will cross- reference
between your DARD flock mark & your Society
flock code. **
2. Tag plus tag.
Within 7 days of birth insert a tag that
contains the DARD flock mark & the
unique animal identification number on
the male part. You should also include
your 3-letter Society flock code, 2-digit
year of birth & individual number on
the female part.
By the 15th June insert
a second tag that contains exactly the
same information as the primary tag above.
Alternatively insert a tag that just contains
your Society flock code, 2-digit year of
birth & individual
number. **
3. Tag plus bolus.
The tag must bear the Society details on
it’s own or be printed on the female
side of a DARD approved tag. The bolus
should cross-reference with the Society
details.
4. Tattoo plus bolus.
The sheep will have a DARD approved tag,
a tattoo showing Society details & a
bolus cross-referenced with the tattoo.
Please note that if a tattoo is being used
as part of the sheep’s identification,
it must be legible on the day of sale. Likewise
if a bolus is part of the identification,
it must be present on the day of sale.
** Please note that the DARD unique identification
number & Society individual number may
be the same but this is not absolutely necessary.
If the former is more than 3 digits (e.g.
001124 or 061124, then simply record the
last 3 digits as your unique Society identification.
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