IFA opposes compulsory electronic tagging of sheep on welfare grounds

COMPULSORY electronic tags for sheep would impose avoidable suffering on animals and add significant costs to farmers, argues IFA national sheep committee chairman, James Murphy.

Mr Murphy said most sheep farmers oppose the EU’s move towards individual EID tagging for sheep. This is largely because the electronic tags cause ear infections in sheep in a way that the old mart tags never did. Added to this, each EID tag costs around €1.20 versus the 25-30c cost of the old tags.

James Murphy said: “We are asking the minister to talk with the authorities in Brussels to ensure farmers can react humanely and cut out the tags when the sheep’s ear is sore.