[MChez]

 
hello , i am looking in to getting some in lamb sheep on our land and am confused about tagging regulations as some say one thing and others say other things, could someone please point me in the right direction.

i understand they need 2 tags if being keep longer than 12 months , but when you order tags do they come in sets of 2 or do i have to order them separately?   

Many Thanks

[SallyintNorth]

You can order 'slaughter tags', which are single electronic tags, or paired tags (one electronic and one not), depending on what you need.

The numbers are the same, but the individual number on the slaughter tag can only be read by an electronic reader, whereas the individual number on the electronic tag sold as part of a pair is visible, as well as being readable by the electronic reader.  (Do not ask me why, it is utter nonsense to me!   )

Rules differ by country; I can only speak for England.

As far as I understand it, officially, any sheep that's alive after 12 months old must have two tags.

As far as I understand it, officially, any sheep leaving your holding to go anywhere other than slaughter (via a mart is ok) should have two tags.

In practise, many marts are happy for animals up to 12 months old with a single electronic tag, even if it's a store mart (so the animal will not be going straight to slaughter.)

'Up to 12 months old' is interpreted in a seasonal sense rather than a literal sense - last year's lambs getting sold now are deemed to be 'up to 12 months old', even though some of them may have been born 13-14 months ago. 

[crobertson]

All well explained by Sally intNorth but just to add if you are buying in the lambs / sheep they should be ear tagged before leaving their current holding. If you intend on keeping them 12 months + you could always ask the seller to put two tags in (all of our have always come with 2 tags).

Hope this helps

[twizzel]

What everyone above said. If you then need to retag in the future you put in double red tags with your flock number and note down in flock book that you have retagged the sheep.

The double tags that they come to you with will be yellow eid and another tag of any colour but yellow or red.

[SallyintNorth]

All well explained by Sally intNorth but just to add if you are buying in the lambs / sheep they should be ear tagged before leaving their current holding. If you intend on keeping them 12 months + you could always ask the seller to put two tags in (all of our have always come with 2 tags).

Hope this helps

Personally I would insist on double tagged, whatever age, if buying in.  Safest.