Address:
Roxan Developments Ltd
Pheasant Mill, Dunsdale Road
Scottish Borders, Scotland
Selkirk, TD7 5DZ
Tel: 01750 22940
Fax: 01750 21918
Livestock & EID Tags
EID Sheep Tags Scotland
In a recent (July 2011) survey by the NFU Scotland Roxan tags were reported by farmers in a subjective survey as having the best retention of all types of tags, along with our old Bubblegum tags. In reality it was not a hugely statistically significant result, nevertheless it was encouraging to note that end-users had a high opinion of our tag designs! Also in June, TagFaster also won a Silver Award for technical innovation at the 2011 Royal Highland Show.
NO WONDER - LOOK AT THE BLUE YEAR COLOUR ON THE YELLOW TAG !
Order Tags on-line
Scottish Slaughter Tags are EID by law and TagFaster Singles are ideal for that job (order Singles here), and our TagFaster Twins are particularly suited to Store Lambs or Breeding Sheep (order Twins here).
It is interesting to note that orders for the TagFaster system are equally mixed between small orders and large. Clearly the really practical advantages of the 'System' are overwhelmingly attractive to even small flock holders. Twin Tag Twin Coloured sets of tags delivered through a simple and cheap applicator, with a unique advantage of year-colour coding on the yellow EID tag. Small, lightweight and robust tags ice the cake. Order Tags on-line
Sheep tagging in Scotland - Roxan tags reported by NFUS survey as having the best retention of all !
The Scottish government in the form of ScotEID, along with Scottish auction markets and Scottish tag-makers are pioneering sheep EID in the real world.
27th Jan 2010 - The Scottish Government will also support the industry transition to full electronic identification (EID) by covering the additional cost of tags for all farms taking part in the £3 million EID research pilot. The pilot is to be extended to continue to identify workable solutions that will further reduce industry costs and all farms will be eligible to take part.
Join ScotEID. An extra £1 million will be made available to pay for the tags on farms taking part in the research pilot. This is part of a package of measures announced by Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead, which also includes:
- Introducing critical control points allowing tags to be scanned at markets or abattoirs, reducing costs to farmers by 50 per cent - a saving of £4 million across the sector
- Permitting the use of batch recording for 'within business' moves, removing the need to individually record animals which move between holdings in a business
- Enhancing the new database, which is part of the research pilot, to develop the long term benefits of EID, leading to quicker and more accurate systems.
- Allowing the use of single tags for animals due for slaughter within 12 months
- Funding of up to £1000 per farm to assist those who choose to purchase electronic reading equipment for on-farm management purposes, through the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP)
Mr Lochhead said:
"Following two years of wrangling in Europe to achieve greater flexibility on tagging for Scottish farmers, we won important concessions to reduce its impact and cut farmers' costs by around 50 per cent. Now that we must implement these rules, I am keen we keep the system as simple as possible and maximise the opportunity to build on the excellent reputation that Scotch lamb already enjoys at home and abroad.
"That is why I have decided, following thorough consultation with the industry, that all sheep should be electronically tagged, including those sent for slaughter. This will keep paperwork to a minimum, maintain traditional market patterns and allow markets and abattoirs to operate as critical control points to the benefit of the whole sector.
"The Scottish Government will be supporting the industry through the transition to full electronic identification over the coming year. We will be providing funding of £1 million to cover the additional cost of EID tags on partner farms, which will range from as little as £10 per farm to several hundred pounds, and offering up to £1000 per farm for those who choose to buy on-farm electronic reading equipment.
"We will continue to fight for further concessions, including not having to tag animals until they leave the farm of their birth for the first time, which would assist hill sheep farmers in particular. Now that Europe has a new Commissioner, we have an opportunity to argue for these concessions and will be seeking an early opportunity to do so."
Working with stakeholders, the Scottish Government has already fought for and secured a number of concessions in Europe:
- Approval of critical control points, which means tags are scanned at markets or abattoirs rather than on farms, slashing farmers' costs by about 50 per cent
- Phasing in of individual recording requirement for animals to significantly reduce the burden - tags and farm holding registers from 2010, movement documents from 2011, all animals (ie. including those born before January 1, 2010) from 2012
New rules on Electronic Sheep Identification came into force on January 1. They were agreed back in 2003 following the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in 2001 and were signed up to by the UK Government and previous devolved administrations. It replaces current double tagging rules for sheep, which have been in force since January 2008.
Although the rules took effect from January 1, the changes will take some time to come into full effect. For the majority of sheep farmers changes will start with the 2010 lamb crop, so there is no need for any immediate action.
While the Scottish Government supports the need for traceability, it has consistently argued that the rules place unnecessary burdens on farmers, creating additional cost and bureaucracy with little improvement in traceability.
Additional funding of £1 million will help subsidise the cost of electronic tags during 2010-11. It will be available to farms signing up to the EID research pilot, which also provides training and practical help for farmers.
Failure to comply with the EID rules is not an option. The Scottish Government would be financially penalised and farmers would lose between 15 and 50 per cent of their Single Farm Payments.
EID Sheep Tags Scotland
New European rules requiring sheep to be electronically tagged are to be simplified for the Scottish farming industry, reducing bureaucracy and keeping trade efficient.