Sheep tag help

[New Sheep farmer]

Hi all just brought 10 ewe lambs that where tagged with a single eid tag as they where intended to be sent for slaughter, the single tag on all the lambs only has the flock number on how can I tell what there individual Id numbers are? Also I want you them for breeding ewes so how do I go about re tagging them in both ears. Any help welcome
Area: North Devon uk

 

[sodbuster]

Remove tags and replace with double reds

 

[Jackov Altraids]

I fear you are not supposed to have bought them for breeding as they are not tagged correctly.
Double reds are no longer in use.

The only correct way would be to contact the seller and ask them to provide / order the appropriate tags so you can put them in.

 

[neilo]

Hi all just brought 10 ewe lambs that where tagged with a single eid tag as they where intended to be sent for slaughter, the single tag on all the lambs only has the flock number on how can I tell what there individual Id numbers are? Also I want you them for breeding ewes so how do I go about re tagging them in both ears. Any help welcome
Area: North Devon uk

If you can get hold of an EID reader from somewhere, you can read the slaughter tags, then you could order some replacements with those numbers on.

Or just retag with double red tags, as above.

 

[neilo]

I fear you are not supposed to have bought them for breeding as they are not tagged correctly.
Double reds are no longer in use.

The only correct way would be to contact the seller and ask them to provide / order the appropriate tags so you can put them in.

Can you not use red tags to put in one that has lost both tags now? I don't know as I've never used any of the strip of ten I bought to keep FA happy.

Contacting the seller would certainly be another option, and likely the cheapest & easiest.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

I was told at an inspection that reds were no longer to be used but this is the best info I've found so I think @neilo is correct;

UPGRADING LAMBS TAGGED WITH A SLAUGHTER TAG TO FULL EID • On Holding of Birth (HOB) – Remove the slaughter tag and put your next pair of tags in and cross-reference in the HR • Not on HOB – England and Wales – Remove slaughter tag and put in a pair of red tags with your flock number and individual number and cross-reference in the Holding Register (HR) – these must be red. – Scotland - Remove slaughter tag and put in a pair of tags with your flock number and individual number and cross-reference in the Holding Register (HR) – these do not have to be red. – Full traceability must be established – from HOB to current holding – (England only – the slaughter tag must be read electronically to establish, and record, the full EID number) – If traceability cannot be established, the sheep cannot be upgraded.


So you will need the individual number. If you bought them at market then they will be on the invoice/ movement licence. If private, contact the seller as they may know or have a EID reader you can borrow.

 

[tr250]

Why don’t manufacturers print numbers on slaughter tags? They all have individual numbers if read electronically as they come on the grade sheet. It would be nice to know which lambs are which sometimes to know how particular ones graded

 

[Jackov Altraids]

Why don’t manufacturers print numbers on slaughter tags? They all have individual numbers if read electronically as they come on the grade sheet. It would be nice to know which lambs are which sometimes to know how particular ones graded

I know shearwell do but it does cost 2p / tag more!

 

[primmiemoo]

They are tagged correctly if the OP just bought under 6 month old lambs out of the prime pens.

Possibly contact the market for a loan of their stick reader to check the embedded numbers in each lamb's EID? Mark each lamb well with a letter to correspond with that, and order in some pairs of breeder tags in red to apply before the mark fades?

 

[neilo]

Or they could have been born on the current holding, and get the next numbered pairs out of the bag…

What a load of cobblers it all is. Anyone that would be likely to cause any problems with traceability will have a pair of side cutters and some new tags to hand anyway.

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

If the OP is going to be keeping breeding sheep in the future then the better long term option would be to read the slaughter tag numbers and get enough of his/her own flock tags and just cross reference them from the original holding if you cannot get red ones. They are fully traceable. I always thought red tags were if you didn't know the HOB and the reason for putting them in was that they couldn't be exported.

The reason there are no numbers in the outside of slaughter tags is because officially then you would have to record the individual number!!!

 

[Highland Mule]

I was told at an inspection that reds were no longer to be used but this is the best info I've found so I think @neilo is correct;

UPGRADING LAMBS TAGGED WITH A SLAUGHTER TAG TO FULL EID • On Holding of Birth (HOB) – Remove the slaughter tag and put your next pair of tags in and cross-reference in the HR • Not on HOB – England and Wales – Remove slaughter tag and put in a pair of red tags with your flock number and individual number and cross-reference in the Holding Register (HR) – these must be red. – Scotland - Remove slaughter tag and put in a pair of tags with your flock number and individual number and cross-reference in the Holding Register (HR) – these do not have to be red. – Full traceability must be established – from HOB to current holding – (England only – the slaughter tag must be read electronically to establish, and record, the full EID number) – If traceability cannot be established, the sheep cannot be upgraded.


So you will need the individual number. If you bought them at market then they will be on the invoice/ movement licence. If private, contact the seller as they may know or have a EID reader you can borrow.

Any chance of this link? I’ve always used red tags for upgrading stock born on other holdings, but would prefer not, if that’s allowed.

 

[Tim G]

I thought red tags were for those that loose both tags and aren't identifiable.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Really it's the holding of departure who's responsible for tagging sheep before they leave the holding. He should be able to drop round and double tag for you and back date his records or at least post you some.

Failing that follow any advice from above.

It's easier to get it right than wrong. Assume you have a flock register that you're filling in?

 

[gatepost]

Why don’t manufacturers print numbers on slaughter tags? They all have individual numbers if read electronically as they come on the grade sheet. It would be nice to know which lambs are which sometimes to know how particular ones graded

It was a way round EU rules, which said that all details on the tag had to be recorded on licenses, which is why we are supposed to record every individual no for breeders, but as a derogation slaughter tags only have flock no.

 

[tr250]

It was a way round EU rules, which said that all details on the tag had to be recorded on licenses, which is why we are supposed to record every individual no for breeders, but as a derogation slaughter tags only have flock no.

Makes sense now. So all things considered they are better the way they are then

 

[Jackov Altraids]

Any chance of this link? I’ve always used red tags for upgrading stock born on other holdings, but would prefer not, if that’s allowed.

It is from 2017, so may be out of date;

https://www.shearwell.co.uk/Content/pdf/tags/Summary-of-Tagging-and-Recording-Regulations-November-2017.pdf

 

[neilo]

Really it's the holding of departure who's responsible for tagging sheep before they leave the holding. He should be able to drop round and double tag for you and back date his records or at least post you some.

Failing that follow any advice from above.

It's easier to get it right than wrong. Assume you have a flock register that you're filling in?

Presumably the breeder sold them as store lambs, not as breeding sheep, so why should he feel obliged to go out of his way by 'dropping round'? He's done all he was required to do and, if they went through a mart, will have had their slaughter tag numbers accounted for as moving through the central recording point.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Well yes you must be right. Therefore the onus has to be on the receiving keeper.

I don't know what the rules are now if red tags are no longer legal. Tag manufacturers would know.

Definitely would have been easier to have them double tagged before the move though.

It's all such excellent use of our time!

 

[Still Farming]

Presumably the breeder sold them as store lambs, not as breeding sheep, so why should he feel obliged to go out of his way by 'dropping round'? He's done all he was required to do and, if they went through a mart, will have had their slaughter tag numbers accounted for as moving through the central recording point.

Plus all movement records would already of been forwarded to relavant authorities surly?