FG calls on Govt to overhaul sheep tagging system

Fine Gael is calling on the Minister for Agriculture to overhaul the sheep tagging system.

Under the current scheme each sheep must be tagged individually.

However the main opposition party is calling for this to be changed to a flock number.

Deputy Billy Timmins believes this would benefit farmers in keeping track of their flocks.

"I believe that the individual tagging sheep does not assist placing the sheep any greater than the concept of putting a flock tagging system on it."

He added: "It is impossible to individualise sheep, they should be treated as one flock and I am calling on the Minister to reconsider his scheme and to get rid of the individual tagging and introduce a flock tagging system."