Agents can be nominated to register newborn calves electronically

FARMERS can now nominate an agent to act on their behalf in the electronic registration of newborn calves.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney yesterday announced this revision to the Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) System, formerly known as CMMS. Up to now, use of the AIM database as an electronic herd register was available only to farmers who were registered for online services at agfood.ie, or farmers who were using farm software packages approved by the department as an electronic herd register.

With this revision, farmers can now nominate an agent or agency to act on their behalf in the registration of calves. This will increase the electronic recording of farm to farm movements.

This agent facility allows farmers to nominate an agency or agent to submit calf birth registrations and movements electronically to AIM on their behalf, or for an agency or agent to view their data on AIM using agfood.ie for advisory purposes.

The agency or agent can be: A Teagasc advisor, an agricultural consultant or any third party that the keeper nominates for this purpose.

The minister said that where a farmer nominates an agency or agent to submit data to AIM on his or her behalf, that farmer or agent can apply to use the AIM database as an electronic herd register. A farmer using the electronic herd register can dispense with the requirement to maintain the on farm bovine herd register, known as the blue book.

Application forms can be downloaded from www.agriculture.gov.ie.

The form to authorise an agency or agent can be obtained at the local Department offices.