The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Maesgwyn on June 25, 2013, 02:42:33 pm
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I have been given conflicting information from the powers that are, that I need to tag three lambs with my own holding number etc but they came from another farm with their ear tags in already. I have a form that says the number I have is for herd and flock but I was told that it does not cover sheep, but what does flock mean, if not a flock of sheep as poultry comes under another registration number. getting so confused and I dare not ring up and ask what happens if an ear tag falls out and gets lost.
From one very confused sheep owner
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Sheep and goats should keep their flock and individual numbers from the holding of their birth for life. That means any sheep/lambs you buy in (as in born somewhere else) will come with their own flock/individual number and any that you breed on your farm will get tagged with your personal flock number and individual number. Sheep and goats have the same flock/herd number, pigs have their own again and I guess the poultry one is coming from a different authority again.
It is a good idea to have a note (and it should be in the movement forms anyway) of all your sheep ear tag numbers, when they loose a tag you can order a replacement tag with the same number (and yes that means with someone else's flock number on). Happens all the time with pedigree animals, as the original number is on the certificate. If they loose their tag and you don't know the original number they will get a RED tag, which again has your numbers on it, but RED means that the sheep's origin is not verifiable anymore. If they are homebred (and not pedigree) I think you can just allocate the next number of your tags and cross-reference to the old number in holding register.
Not quite sure where chooks come into this, as I never keep more than 49 on my holding... :innocent:
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thanks for that, where would I get just one ear tag from, these sheep are for slaughtered and the two males neutered for that reason. i have worked out the number missing, not that difficult with just three lol
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Dalton and Ketchum are two tag suppliers but you'll need an applicator gun also.
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Not sure why you want to retag? If they are for slaughter can they go on current tags or is your local abattoir insisting that the flock no on ear tags is same as yours? Given they way dealers buy stock at auction that would seem strange if they had to retag everything? All breeding stock has to be individually tagged before 9 mths, however (with EID).
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I had one of those phone calls that sent me around the houses so not sure who I ended up talking to! the initial call was from the movement people to say I had put the wrong date on the form, from there I was sent to talk to someone about the flock number even though my paper work says herd AND flock on the same piece of paper so I had presumed that I had a number, it was then that I was told the sheep needed my number on it even though they are going to slaughter. still not sorted as I have yet to receive the paper work but at least my movement paper work went in and they know that there are sheep here.
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This does't say you need to retag:
[/color]https://www.gov.uk/sheep-and-goats-identification-registration-and-movement (https://www.gov.uk/sheep-and-goats-identification-registration-and-movement)
[/color]You must identify your sheep and goats within:[/color]six months of birth if housed overnight
- nine months of birth if not housed overnight
- whenever they move off the holding of birth if this is sooner
- [/color]If they will be kept for longer than 12 months you must apply two identifiers (typically ear tags). Both will bear the same unique individual ID number. For sheep one must be electronic.
[/color]If they are intended for slaughter within 12 months of age you have the option to identify them with a single ear tag (showing only your flock/herd mark).
[/color]However if you did keep them longer than 12mths you would need to double tag with red tags as not on holding of birth. If anyone says different ask them to show where they are getting the advice! Goat herd / sheep flock is same no. Cattle herd no is different. Your tag supplier would probably help as well.
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