Northern Ireland becomes first UK region to offer cattle EID
© Tim Scrivener Northern Ireland cattle keepers will be able to use electronic identification (EID) tags for newborn calves from 7 September.
The technology is being introduced voluntarily, allowing farmers to replace one conventional cattle tag with an approved EID tag, though there is no requirement to switch.
The move makes Northern Ireland the first part of the UK to make bovine EID available.
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The tags contain a microchip programmed with the animal’s unique identification number, which compatible readers can scan.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) said electronic identification could speed up and improve the accuracy of recording cattle movements, while reducing transcription errors and the need to manually read tags.
The technology could also improve efficiency and animal handling on farms, at livestock markets and in processing plants.
Daera minister Andrew Muir said: “It will give herd keepers the choice to adopt this technology where it works for their business, while supporting more accurate, efficient and safer recording of cattle movements.
“Northern Ireland will be the first region in the UK to make bovine EID available, and this voluntary approach allows the sector to begin realising the benefits without placing new requirements on all herd keepers.”
Future EID requirements
Approved EID tags will have a white front leaf, distinguishing electronically tagged cattle from animals carrying conventional yellow tags.
The rear leaf can be either white or yellow, while button tags, where used, will be entirely white.
Animals’ identification numbers will continue to be printed on EID tags, meaning they can still be read visually if electronic equipment is unavailable.
The voluntary scheme does not rule out bovine EID becoming compulsory in Northern Ireland at a later date.
Daera has already consulted on mandatory cattle EID and is considering responses before deciding whether to bring forward further proposals.
Electronic identification has been compulsory for sheep in Northern Ireland since 31 December 2009.