Sheep producers say no to electronic sheep identification

NFU Cymru members in Clwyd have reiterated their concerns that before systems of electronic identification are introduced for sheep, further development is required to ensure that they are simple, reliable, robust and cost effective.

Addressing a meeting of NFU Cymru members in Clwyd, John Owen, Chairman of the union's Less Favoured Area Board said, "There remains a commitment in the European Commission to the introduction of electronic sheep identification, although lobbying by the NFU and UK government continues to try to ensure that its implementation is delayed until the systems become much more cost effective and workable. Interestingly, other EU Member States are beginning to appreciate our concerns and are adding their voices to our argument."

Clwyd farmer, Idris Roberts of Treuddyn, who is Vice-Chairman of NFU Cymru's Livestock Board, said, "Reports from farmers who have participated in trials to date have not been particularly positive, with many stating that the equipment on offer is unreliable and lacking in robustness.

"Obviously, it is essential that this equipment is capable of efficiently and accurately identifying individual animals and recording actions within a farming environment. It must be durable enough to survive the odd knock or two and of course withstand extreme weather conditions. However, poor reliability and complexity seem to be the norm at the moment rather than the exception," he added.

Commenting on the cost of the system, NFU Cymru County Chairman, Ken Bellis said, "We must not ignore the cost of implementing this system. Average costs associated with trial work to date equate to £9.31 per ewe in the first year and £1.38 per ewe per year thereafter. If you transpose these figures across the entire Welsh flock they equate to £47million in the first year and £7million per year thereafter, which just isn't an amount that the industry can afford."

"NFU Cymru will continue to oppose European plans to introduce these electronic systems as early as 2008 and push hard for a delay until at least 2012, by which time it is hoped that the equipment and software will have developed so much further as to provide systems which are simple, reliable, robust and cost effective," concluded Idris Roberts.