Central database would help sheep EID

Producers must enter dialogue with abattoirs to get the most from EID, according to EBLEX’s Chris Lloyd.

Speaking in response to the comment that abattoirs are not ready to record and feed back information to farmers, Mr Lloyd said producers should talk to abattoirs and explain their individual requirements.

However, he admitted that until abattoirs could overcome technical difficulties, it would be difficult for them to communicate these data to producers.

“Abattoirs are investing in equipment, but they are struggling to overcome challenges.” He also suggested there may be a role for EBLEX to play in initiating communication.

Speaking during a seminar on EID, Richard Webber of Shearwell Data, also called for a central database to be set up to improve the efficacy of EID.

“Third party reading can only work with a central database – it is crazy we don’t have one.”

He explained that a database could hold movement records and be inspected remotely, taking a lot of the hassle out of EID for those less computer literate farmers.

“Today we have a huge problem if we have a disease outbreak as there is no traceability; we need to consider the human aspect as well as the animal side.”