The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Bodies collaborate on EID database
The body representing auction marts in Scotland has revealed plans for a new research project into the use of electronic identification (EID) tags in cattle.
The Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS) will work with Huntly-based ScotEID to develop a database for information gathered about cattle via EID.
ScotEID runs a multi- species database primarily for the recording of animal movements in Scotland.
IAAS will work with the organisation on the research project which aims to develop a database first, before determining what type of EID tags manufacturers will need to make.
Speaking at the IAAS annual conference near Glasgow at the weekend, the institute’s executive secretary, Andrew Wright, said industry needed to get to grips with cattle EID as the European Commission was set to make it compulsory by 2019.
The project was likely to involve EID tags with both low frequency (LC) capability and ultra high frequency (UHF) capability, said Mr Wright.
He said IAAS would be applying for financial support through various different government funding streams in a bid to get the project going.
Mr Wright said it would be open to any interested livestock auction mart or cattle-keeper in Scotland.
The executive director of north-east farmers’ cooperative ANM Group, John Gregor, said both Thainstone mart and the firm’s livestock mart in Caithness would get on board with the project.
“We are very pleased with the announcement that the institute are to push ahead with a research project on EID and we will be working closely with ScotEID and the institute to take a major part in the project for all our customers and members,” he said.
Quality Meat Scotland knowledge transfer specialist Robert Gilchrist said EID was nothing more than a tool for gathering and transferring data and the key was how that data was interpreted.
An example of its potential was its use in the drive to reduce anthelmintic resistance, said Mr Gilchrist.
“This (wormer resistance) is an absolute storm cloud coming down the line,” he said.
“The drugs are designed to work to a body weight for a reason. Resistance is growing and growing and if we could use EID and everyone treated animals to their weight we could start to make an impact and make use of the drugs properly and expand the life of them.”