Sheep and Cattle Tagging Regulations – explained
Sheep - England
Basic Rules
- All Sheep born or identified on or after 31/12/09 must be identified according to the new legislation.
- Any sheep kept beyond 12 months of age must be double identified with one Electronic and one Visual tag.
- Any sheep intended for slaughter before 12 months of age can be tagged with a single Slaughter tag. This tag may be either an Electronic or a Visual tag.
- Electronic tags are Yellow only, and Yellow tags are not permitted for any other purpose (incl management).
- Red has been designated a reserved colour for Replacement tags and Black is reserved for use where the animal has an EID Bolus. These colours are not permitted for any other purpose (incl management only).
Upgrading a slaughter animal
- On the Holding Of Birth (HOB) you may upgrade to full EID.
- Not on HOB, any animal tagged with a non EID tag cannot be upgraded to full EID. An animal tagged with an Electronic Slaughter tag can be upgraded to full EID on its first move only as long as the full individual identity has been recorded, using Red Replacement tags.
Replacements
- Replacement rules are the same for full EID animals and animals in the historic flock. If an animal loses a tag(s) you may apply an identical replica tag or if the animal is on its HOB apply a new double set of tags (can be non EID if pre 31/12/09 legislation), remove any remaining tag and make the appropriate record in your holding register.
- For animals not on the HOB the same rules apply except that any new set must be Red Replacements.
- Lost tags on slaughter animals can be replaced with another slaughter tag on the HOB. If not on the HOB apply a Red Slaughter Tag.
Cattle Tag Regulations – explained
Animals born after 1st January 2000 require a set of tags (2) – one primary and one secondary – printed with a numeric herd number from the holding of birth followed by a check digit and a five digit animal number.
Lost tags should be replaced with a tag printed with the same information as the original.
These tag regulations apply to Great Britain only.
For regulations applying to animals born prior to January 2000, please refer to the DEFRA website – www.defra.gov.uk in England and Wales and the SEERAD website – www.scotland.gov.uk/agri in Scotland, or call us for more details on telephone number 01604 881491.
There are no requirements for barcoded tags, however, most exporters will insist on two barcoded tags per animal.
All cattle tag regulations are correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of going to print.