LAA clarify electronic tagging queries for sheep farmers

The Livestock Auctioneers Association have responded to farmer concerns over sheep EID and provided clarification regarding animals that are presented to markets without electronic tags.

Chairman Alastair Sneddon confirmed, "Auctioneers are bearing a considerable financial burden to implement the new EID rules with minimum impact on farmers, so any manual reading of ear tags will only increase that burden. Therefore Farmers should contact their local market if they have animals with manual tags they wish to sell.

"We strongly urge farmers to make every effort to ensure sheep are electronically tagged. However if during this transition period sheep are presented to markets with manual ear tags then auctioneers will endeavour to help farmers see those animals sold."