NEWS
Bluetongue Update
Double-Tagging and Society Identification Requirements
(Northern
Ireland Members will no doubt be aware that the requirements
have not
changed in Northern Ireland)
Now that double tagging
has been introduced in Great Britain, the Society has
reviewed its identification requirements in line with
devolved government
requirements.
We are anxious to avoid unnecessary duplication
of effort and cost
and the new requirements, aimed at combining both government
and Society needs
will be phased in this year and will be a requirement
of all English, Scottish & Welsh
members for the 2009 lamb crop.
The following advice
is aimed at ensuring that you can comply with both
DEFRA/Scottish
Government/Welsh Assembly Government requirements and
Society’s own requirements for
identifying pedigree Texel Sheep and only have to carry
the one set of double tags to
comply with all requirements. We hope the following
will be helpful in explaining the new
requirements: -
When does the legislation come into force?
The government requirements came into force in England
on the 11th January, in Wales on the
16th January, in Scotland on the 18th January. In principal
the rules in all regions (except
Northern Ireland) will be the same but as is normal
with devolved administrations, we can
expect slight variation in the actual detail. The legislation
is relevant to all sheep born on or
after the date of implementation along with any sheep
not yet identified by that date.
What happens about sheep identified before the new
legislation comes into force?
Sheep previously identified with an official UK tag
as per the old legislation (before the
implementation date detailed in previous section)
can continue to be identified with a single
ear tag. No additional tags are needed.
What categories
of sheep does the new legislation apply too?
It applies to all categories other than sheep intended
for slaughter within Great Britain and
under 12 months of age. Sheep intended for slaughter
within Great Britain and under 12
months of age can be single tagged.
Must the two tags
be identical?
The identification number on the two tags must be identical,
when first applied. However,
where a sheep originally intended for slaughter within
12 months is retained beyond that age,
the keeper can either apply a 2nd tag to match the
original or insert a new set of double tags
(leaving the original in place). The legislation does
not stipulate either the style or colour of
tags (except the exclusion of red tags).
Which ears
should the tags be applied to?
It is advised that one tag be applied to each ear.
For single tagged sheep (those destined for
slaughter within Great Britain and under 12 months
old) it is recommended that the tag be
inserted into the left ear (as viewed from behind the
sheep).
Will tattoos still be allowed?
Although the legislation is generally referred to
as ‘double
tagging’, tattoos are allowed as a
secondary means of identification. This means that,
provided the sheep has one tag in the
correct format, the second form of identification could
be a tattoo but only of in the correct
format, the same as the official UK tag (see later).
Can
Management information still be used on an official
ear tag?
Yes. But it must come after the official number and
it must be clearly separated from the
official number so as not to be confused with the official
number. Particular tags from
particular tag manufacturers may have limited ability
to carry additional information.
What is the correct
Format
The correct format is the UK flock mark (your unique
6-digit flock mark) followed by the individual number
e.g. UK123456 001234 (with the final 6-digit individual
number running consecutively through the year and
from year to year i.e. no producer should be restarting
their number every year!)
The Society no longer requires
the flock code or year of birth to be recorded on
the tag (though
you can continue to do this as management information
if you wish). When completing your
birth notification forms, simply record the final
4-digits of your individual official tag number (in
the example given above: 1234) as the lambs flockbook
number. Our computer system can
cross reference your flock code with your UK flock
mark. In time, you will see pedigree
certificates with both a tag number and a flockbook
number, the same system used by
pedigree cattle Societies.
For clarity if we have a
member with flock code ABC and UK Flock Mark UK654321
and his tag
range for the current season starts at 000346 upwards,
he would tag his first lamb UK654321
000346 and he would advise the Society that this lamb’s
birth notification number is ABC08
0346. If this lamb goes on to be registered it will
have a flockbook number ABC08 0346 and
an ear tag number UK654321 000346.
What happens if a
birth notified/registered Texel sheep looses a tag?
One tag lost
For double tagged sheep born in Great Britain, regardless
if on the holding of birth or not, if
one tag is lost or illegible and the other remains,
you should replace the lost tag with an
identical one as required by the Society and in compliance
with government requirements.
Both tags lost
For double tagged sheep born in Great Britain, regardless
if on the holding of birth or not, if
both tags have been lost or are illegible, you should
establish the identity of the sheep and
replace the lost tags with identical ones as required
by the Society and in compliance with
government requirements.
Importation of Sheep from
Northern Ireland to Great Britain
Sheep under 12 months of age may arrive in Scotland
from Northern Ireland with one tag.
Those over 12 months of age must be double tagged
before moving to Scotland.
Texel Society Board Changes
5th November 2007
At
the Texel Sheep Society AGM & Social Weekend,
attended by over 240 Members from throughout the
British Isles along with guests from the Irish Republic,
Tim Healy from Shipley in East Sussex was elected
as Society Board Chairman & President. [more]
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