ELECTRONIC identification (EID) of livestock should not be viewed as an inconvenience, but more of a benefit to their business that livestock producers cannot ignore.

While sheep EID has been one of the most contentious issues the industry has faced in recent years, industry consultant and sheep farmer, Jim Turvill, believes flock masters can benefit from seeing compulsory EID as a chance to acquire information to help manage their business, rather than as a legally imposed inconvenience.

"Rather than being seen as an administrative burden, EID should be considered as an opportunity to gather individual ewe management data quickly and simply to increase productivity and profitability," said Mr Turvill, who has been working with Eblex to assess the implementation of EID.

"For example, if we have to record every incidence of a disease, surely it makes sense to use the data for management purposes too?

"EID readers should give sheep producers a powerful management tool but they need to be seen in this way. For example, how useful would it be pre-tupping to be able to identify ewes that had more than three cases on footrot in the last year, allowing them to be sorted so they do not breed?

"What needs to happen is for producers to embrace the opportunity and for manufacturers to develop readers that allow the collection and interpretation of meaningful management data."

Mr Turvill said that robust stick readers are the most practical way of gathering information but says they must be capable of holding significant information about the whole flock and allow meaningful data entry and analysis. They need a clear display and be easy to use.

"Continuing with the footrot example, it is of little value just being able to enter 'yes' or 'no' against a ewe. This tells us nothing about the problem. We need to be able to enter a number so we know if it is the first, second or whatever occurrence.

This allows us to interpret whether it is a chronic problem and also how effective our treatments have been. It might also highlight other issues, such as all chronic foot rot ewes being purchased from a particular source."

To understand the potential for EID to supply management data, he has been using a Gallagher HR5 stick reader with his flock of North Country Mules over the last year.

Before he started recording, Mr Torvill spent time deciding what he wanted to record and how he wanted the data organised.

At scanning he recorded the results for every ewe. When ewes lambed he was then able to compare actual lambs born with the scan result. He then recorded lambs born alive and dead, and how many lambs subsequently died.

Data was also collected about the ewe, including whether the lambing was assisted or if she prolapsed. Milk supply of the ewe was also monitored and how well lambs were mothered.

"I can review lambing performance easily by various criteria. By the time I come round to select ewes for tupping I would have forgotten this information, but now I have it on the reader and immediately to hand so I could make sure problem ewes are not bred again, saving me costs later in the year."

During the year, disease incidence per ewe was also record - as required by farm assurance - but in such a way that the data aids flock management.

"Previously, if I saw a ewe with footrot I couldn't tell how many times she had had it before, but now the reader gives me the information. My management will be different if it is, for example, the third case as opposed to the first.

"The HR5 can also help make worming more cost-effective and reduce wormer use.

Like most people, I don't blanket worm anymore. I record which ewes are wormed and when. If I see ewes scouring I can quickly check if they have been wormed.

"If they haven't, I can worm them for the first time. If they have been wormed previously, I can worm them again but possibly change the wormer used."

Mr Turvill also uses the reader to store lamb weights allowing him to keep a close eye on growth rates and predict when lambs will be fit to sell.

"Every bit of information has a management value. I am confident EID will help the industry realise this value and increase flock productivity. However, sheep producers must be prepared to embrace the technology."