Calls for open cattle database


9 December 1999



Calls for open cattle database


PRESSURE is mounting to put British livestock on a computer database, enabling all sections of the industry to get pinpoint information on cattle at the touch of a button.

John Cameron, chairman of the Scottish Beef Council, told an industry seminar in Edinburgh that with recent problems on EU beef export legislation, produce should be completely traceable.

Jim Seaton of the Scottish Agricultural College warned that Scottish livestock producers will be faced with losses of millions of pounds unless they have an accurate computer-based record of livestock.

David Kralin of the British Cattle Movement Service said there were plans to get all UK cattle on to a database which included details of feed regimes and disease control.

This would eventually surpass the paper passport system.

He predicted that this could become the core system for a wider assurance scheme.

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