Electronic tagging to be mandatory for all sheep in Ireland
All sheep sold after October 1 have to be identified electronically and farmers will receive a maximum of €50 each for the first purchase of EID tags, Mr. Creed said.
The minister added that the sheep will be required to have two tags, one conventional and one electronic. The only exception regards lambs to be identified with a single electronic tag if they are under 12 months old and farmers are moving them directly to slaughter from the holding of birth.
"The simplified rules will provide a more robust sheep traceability system and will further support the development and sustainability of the sheep industry. The improved traceability system will assist in maintaining existing markets and in securing new international outlets for Irish sheep meat, in line with the development goals for the sheep industry, as detailed in the Food Wise 2025 strategy," Mr. Creed stated.
According to the Irish Minister of Agriculture, the measure is being introduced to simplify the sheep tagging system. The record keeping requirements for farmers will be significantly reduced in moving sheep to livestock marts, slaughter plants and export assembly centres.
The Minister further announced that electronic tag readers and associated software are included as eligible investments in the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) scheme to assist sheep farmers in flock management. He stressed, however, that tag readers are not a requirement for the new sheep identification system.
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