Farming groups split over full electronic identification for sheep

AGRI-FOOD groups are divided as to the pros and cons of an EU move to introduce full electronic identification (EID) for sheep.

The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) believes the new tagging would give the country’s sheep exports a marketing advantage. The IFA, however, says that the tags hurt the sheep’s ears and are costly and impractical.

Michael Spellman, chairman of the ICOS national marts committee, said it is imperative that the Irish sheep sector finds ways to differentiate its offering to consumers.

“EID will present mar-keting advantages which the Irish sheep meat sector needs to embrace,” he said.

“The adoption of full EID will enhance flock management, where it will allow for more efficient animal recording and more streamlined sale and movement between farms, marts and processors. More importantly, it will ensure differentiation, competitiveness and consumer appeal for our sheep meat exports on international markets where traceability and quality must be continually assured.”

However, the IFA’s national sheep committee chairman, James Murphy, said the ICOS move to back electronic tagging would undermine IFA’s work at national and EU level to find a solution to EID.

Mr Murphy said: “IFA has put forward proposals which would allow finishers to continue to re-tag lambs with a single EID tag. This practical solution would protect store lamb sellers, the marts and lamb finishers. If the facility to re-tag lambs is withdrawn and sellers are forced to use EID, it will drive sheep away from the marts and damage competition.”

He said that an EID-based CMMS type system is totally unworkable for sheep and would be a nightmare in terms of penalties.

He added that, while trials had shown EID accuracy levels ranging from 85% to 95%, the EU would not accept any level of tolerance for reading errors.