Warning over cattle-tagging failures

Farmers need to be alert to what an inspection might mean for their business. ANDREW McCORNICK

Scotland’s farmers could face thousands of pounds of penalties as a result of cattle tagging failures, according to inspectors.

With the latest annual round of farm inspections under way, unofficial reports suggest that the number of livestock owners breaching ID rules is “unacceptably high”.

The cattle inspections are part of a wider audit requirement on the Scottish Government to verify that farms claiming for various support schemes comply with the rules.

Under the requirement, yearly inspections must be carried out on cattle holdings and the farms of those benefiting from the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme.

Early reports on those investigated to date indicate a worrying increase in the number of failures, particularly around registering and tagging of calves.

Most areas are well through the inspection process.

NFU Scotland has urged its members to make sure tagging and registration are in order.

It is also urging members to be proactive and, if they identify a problem, work hard with bodies such as the British Cattle Movement Service to rectify it.

NFUS president Andrew McCornick said: “Given the pressure on incomes, farmers need to be alert to what an inspection might mean for their business.

“I know it is always a challenge to keep on top of registrations and tagging, but the reality is that you run the risk of potentially losing thousands of pounds if calves are found by officials on inspection to be untagged and unregistered.

“Not only do you face penalties from your basic payments, but the untagged and unregistered calves could be rendered valueless and deemed unfit for the food chain because the traceability cannot be guaranteed.

“Nothing has changed in the regulations. So, with inspections still to be completed, I urge all cattle keepers to take a bit of time to ensure tagging and registrations are up to speed.

“That would also provide the opportunity to make sure animal movement records, deaths and cattle passports – all of which will also be inspected – are correct.

“It will be time well spent should an inspection be called.”