Reminder over livestock registration requirements

Agencies with responsibility for animal welfare in Orkney have joined forces to issue a reminder to the local agricultural sector over livestock registration requirements. 

Agencies - including Orkney Island Council, the Scottish Government Rural Increments Payment Department (SGRIPD), Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) and Farm Advisory Service (FAS) - have reported an increase in the births, deaths and registration of livestock not being kept up to date in line with the time frames laid out by the Scottish Government. 

Gary Foubister is the Council’s Service Manager for Trading Standards, which has responsibility for animal welfare issues.  He said: “Farming and agriculture lie at the very heart of our community.  Rules around the registration of livestock are there for a reason, to protect both farm and animal.

“In general, our agricultural community are keeping their records well up to date, but local agencies have noted a trend towards this not happening within the timeframes required and so it was felt it might be time for a gentle reminder.”

Key points to note are: 

 Tagging: 

• Beef calves must be tagged within the first 20 day of birth or before they leave the holding if this is before 20 days from birth. 

• Dairy calves must be tagged with 1 tag within the first 36 hours of birth and the second tag added within 20 days of birth. 

• All animals leaving the holding must have 2 correct ear tags. 

• Keepers have 28 days to replace tags that are broken or lost. 

Registration and passports:

• 27 days are given from the date of birth of calves to register calves.
• To register a calf you must provide ScotEID of the 12-digit ear tag number, the sex of the calf, the birth dam’s ear tag number, the genetic ear tag if different from birth dam, the date of birth, the breed and the sire’s ear tag number if known. 
• There must be a correct signed passport for every animal in your ownership.
• Cattle which move off your holding must have the accompanying passport signed and dated with the correct movement date. 

Notification of movements and death: 

• Three days are given to notify ScotMoves+ of movements on and off your holding - including within business moves 

• 7 days are given to notify ScotMoves+ of the death of an animal, where the death box on the passport is filled out if posted back to ScotEID 

• Any animals stolen or lost must be reported to ScotMoves+ within 7 days of becoming aware of the loss or theft 

• Records must be up to date in your herd register for every animal including where relevant 

• Official ear tag number 

• Date of birth 

• Sex 

• Breed 

• Dam’s official ear tag number 

• Date of movements on and off your holding 

• Details of where the animal has moved to and from, including details of the keeper 

• Date of death 

Late calf registration: 

 If you do not register your calf within 27 days of the birth then your application is late, and a Notice of Registration (NoR) is issued. In practical terms, this means that: 

• the animal must remain on your holding for its lifetime 

• the animal must not move alive from your holding, unless you get a movement licence and move the animal direct to a BSE sampling site, knacker’s yard or hunt kennel 

• the animal is not eligible for the human food chain 

• the animal can only be used for milking or breeding purposes (you must register any calves from these animals in the usual way). 

More information is available at Livestock identification and traceability: guidance - gov.scot or from Mark Evans, Animal Welfare Officer within Trading Standards at Orkney Islands Council on 01856 873535 or trading.standards@orkney.gov.uk