SCOTTISH SHEEP farmers have been reminded that there is a double-tagging derogation covering lambs that are intended for slaughter.

As the autumn markets get under way, the National Farmers Union Scotland noted that a number of farmers were bringing store lambs to market with a double tag as standard, although a single electronic slaughter tag may be all that is required.

The slaughter derogation that is in place allows a single electronic flock tag to be used for lambs that are intended for slaughter within one year of birth. The benefit of this concession is that batch moves are allowed in this situation, and the need to record the identity of an individual both when tagging, and on movement, is avoided.

To comply with the regulation, any single tagged animals that live beyond one year are able to be upgraded to full EID, where traceability is not compromised.

The Union added that use of a double tag gives each lamb an individual ID, and some farmers might prefer to go down this route. The downside was that double tagging was more expensive, and the regulation required the individual IDs to be recorded both when tagging and at movement, removing the flexibility of a batch move.

The Union said it was also worth noting that there may be cross compliance issues for the breeder and store buyer if store animals are identified according to the full EID requirements and those animals are not then moved and recorded using their full EID identification.

For store buyers moving any double tagged EID animal, even within a batch of single tagged animals, they must ensure that where individual identities exist they are recorded at an individual level.

NFUS livestock policy manager, Penny Johnston, said: “Whilst in the face of all the fear and confusion surrounding the new sheep tagging rules many farmers have been understandably taking a belt and braces approach, believing that to be the safest route to compliance.

“In this case, however, it may be worth considering whether double tagging store lambs is the most appropriate course of action. The clear message to farmers has to be that the potential problems associated with using the double tag format for non-breeding animals can be avoided simply by single tagging with slaughter tags, and as a result showing only flock numbers,” said Miss Johnston.

“This allows movements to be recorded on a batch basis, or at worst, a batch within batch basis. This avoids the complication for store buyers of singling out those fully identified animals and ensuring they are recorded individually.

“In essence, single tagged slaughter animals are less likely to fall foul of a cross compliance breach and so farmers selling store animals likely to be finished before a year old should be considering whether single slaughter tags, rather than full EID, may be more appropriate.”