Appeal on ScotMoves

Farmers who have not yet registered to use the new ScotMoves cattle movement system have been urged to do so.

The Government’s chief vet Sheila Voas said the system, launched at the beginning of the month, was working well and 2,018 farmers and crofters were now registered to use it on 4,298 additional holdings.

The traceability system enables farmers and crofters to notify internal movements of cattle within their business to a central online holding register – a tool unavailable under the previous system.

The Government believes it makes it easier to trace cattle in the case of an emergency or disease outbreak.

Ms Voas said farmers were not being asked to do more than they did previously.

“An up-to-date holding register has always been a requirement and, to accommodate the increased focus on it, we are allowing 48 hours rather than the existing 36 hours for it to be updated,” she said.