AFTER YEARS of sheep industry campaigning, Defra has agreed to change how it determines the age of sheep at point of slaughter, and whether or not their carcases must be split to remove 'specified risk materials' under the TSE regulations.

The National Sheep Association warmly welcomed what it described as the 'long-awaited' news that the existing method of checking for tooth eruption can be scrapped in favour of an agreed calendar date – and that this date will now be June 30.

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: “Finally, in 2019, the UK sheep industry will be able say goodbye to toothing old season lambs as a way of determining age and whether carcasses need to be split. Ministers have agreed that we will move away from tooth eruption to a set calendar date of June 30, before which no lambs will need to be checked or spilt, and after which all old season lambs will need to split and with SRM material removed.

“This is a major step forward that follows some four years of intensive data gathering and positioning by NSA and NFU and with the involvement of all relevant industry bodies," said Mr Stocker. "It’s an example of what can be achieved to benefit the industry by organisations working together, and an example too of what can be done through constructive and supportive working between industry and regulators.

"We estimate that checking for tooth eruption has cost the UK sheep industry some £24 million a year in time and reduced value," he said. "It’s an imprecise method that has led to uncertainty and has made it difficult for finishers to plan buying and feeding regimes.

Looking ahead, he agreed that 'in theory' the new cut-off date could prompt a final surge of lambs towards the end of June, but reckoned that in practice the industry would have plenty of time to finish lambs and be aware of the risks of leaving too many too late.

"In addition, many of the larger abattoirs will make the switch to new season lamb well in advance of this end of June cut-off date. In our final discussions with Defra and FSA we stressed the need for a decision during this autumn so that the industry can make informed decisions over sheep buying and grazing plans and the next steps will now see industry working with Defra, devolved administrations, and FSA to agree the final implementation details.”

NFU Scotland livestock chairman Charlie Adam said: "This rule change comes following years of advocacy from NFUS and others to reduce the impact of regulations on the sheep industry. This new rule means that there will no longer be a need to check the teeth of old season lambs to judge when a sheep is 12 months old, reducing the cost burden on industry.

"This change wouldn’t have come if it was not for industry representative organisations jointly pushing this issue with UK Government and the European Commission. I’d like to recognise the effort made by farming, auction market, and abattoir organisations to highlight the over burdensome cost of checking for tooth eruption.”