THE main lambing season will be under way in a few weeks time and while producers are naturally hoping that this will be a more profitable year for the sheep sector, they also have major concerns over proposed EU legislation on sheep tagging.
As the rules currently stand, all sheep born after 18 January 2008 be double tagged before any movement to a sale or alternative grazing away from the main holding before they are nine months of age. However, if lambs are sent straight to slaughter,
then only one tag is required.
NFU Scotland, and virtually the entire sheep industry, reckons that these plans are unworkable and will deliver absolutely nothing in terms of the disease traceability currently achieved through a batch system. The batch regime has been shown to be robust and allowed every sheep to be traced within three days of last year's outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) on 3 August.
There are also serious concerns over plans to introduce electronic identification (EID) on an individual basis for every sheep as from 2010. This is perceived as being totally impractical in the Scottish context where flocks in the hills frequently exceed 1,000 ewes.
Accordingly NFUS has written to Androulla Vasilou, the new EU animal health and consumer protection commissioner, who earlier this week succeeded Markos Kprianou –who resigned to pursue a political career in Cyprus – so that she can become more familiar with Scottish conditions.
Nigel Miller, vice-president of NFUS, said: "We welcome the derogation which will allow animals destined for slaughter within 12 months of age to be single tagged. However, breeding stock born, raised and used for breeding on their holding of birth present an even lower risk as they are never moved from the birth holding. They should be identified with a simple tag system using the holding of birth tag as the single identifier."
The Scottish Government is currently funding a trial of EID technology to assess its efficacy. All of the concerns over double tagging are equally applicable but NFUS, according to Miller, has further reservations.
He said: "The first relates to additional costs. The profitability of Scottish sheep farming at the moment simply cannot sustain the price of EID technology. The second extra concern revolves around the principle of imposing regulation without the best technology available."
There have been various demonstrations of EID technology, most notably in Lanark market last year. The system appears to work, but Miller remains unconvinced.
He said: "We have urged the commission to review regulatory technology to ensure that it is fit for purpose. This must include the ability to allow flock marks to be used as part of any EID system.
"The batch movement of sheep is the cornerstone on which the Scottish sheep sector is built. Such a large and highly stratified industry needs to be able to move many thousands of sheep in as simple and practical method as possible."
It is clear that the UK farmers face a tough battle to persuade Brussels of the need for special treatment. However, many farmers believe that if officials – and the commissioner – were to be taken up a Scottish glen on a cold, wet day a change of mind could be forthcoming.
