[ceilidhband]

Just bought some Jacobs-3 ewes and a ram, which are tagged with previous owners tags. Do these need removing and if so, is this difficult without causing harm?

[TheCaptain]

No, leave them on and enter them into your flock book.  If they are being retagged (due to health or loss) you need either an identical tag or a red 'R' replacement tag

[TheCaptain]

There's further information and guidance on the DEFRA website for tagging for sheep born pre-2010 (single tag), post 2010 (double tag) and post 2011 (EID and double tag for sheep older than 1 year, those going for slaughter require only the single EID tag).

Rules are applicable to England, not sure on the regs for Welsh/Scots/NI if different?

[Fleecewife]

The idea of sheep tags is so the sheep can be followed as individuals from the holding of their birth throughout any moves they make until they arrive at their final destination, wherever that may be (slaughter or dying on farm).  So the tags stay on the ewes and tup you have bought and in fact you must not take them off.  Once you breed from them and have lambs born on your holding then the new lambs will have tags with your holding number on applied.

[ceilidhband]

Many thanks for your advice. Greatly appreciated.  Its a great relief not having to mess them around.

[shearling]

  Hi have you got a flock book and a DEFRA number?