Share views on cattle tagging

Proposals to modernise how Scotland’s cattle are tagged, identified and traced are the focus of a new consultation.

Farmers and businesses in the region are encouraged to give their views on plans to fit all new-born cattle with electronic ear tags.

If implemented, bovine electronic identification (EID) can provide cattlekeepers with an easier way to collect and store cattle information.

All cattle born in the UK, European Union and many other countries, is currently required to be uniquely identified with ear tags and their movements recorded.

The consultation is seeking views on updating the current noncomputerised system with EID, the use of an online register for cattle, and the removal of paper cattle passports for EID identified animals.

Agriculture Minister and MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, Jim Fairlie, said: “Since 2017 we have worked closely with the cattle industry to identify new methods of cattle identification that will help reduce costs and improve efficiency for cattle farmers.

“The new system is the latest example of the world-leading innovation on show within Scottish agriculture.”

NFU Scotland president, Martin Kennedy, said: “We welcome the Scottish Government’s consultation on

Cattle Identification and Traceability in Scotland, particularly the long-awaited sections related to the use of EID.

“Scottish farmers and crofters have been supportive of the introduction of electronic identification for decades, as noted in the recent report compiled by ScotEID. In the future, the industry will rely heavily on data to manage our herds’ efficiency and productivity, and to deliver against ambitious environmental goals making EID crucial.”

Mr Kennedy added: “We hope that this consultation will finally progress the introduction of Bovine EID, and, ultimately, will negate the need for paper passports.”