New Sheep EID Rules

• All sheep born or first tagged from 1 January 2010 (new sheep) must be identified with two identifiers bearing the same number, a number which will remain with the animal for life unless a tag is lost. An EID tag and a matching conventional tag will most commonly be used.  
• Sheep still do not have to be tagged until they are 9 months old or until they are being moved off the holding, whichever is the sooner.  
• The colour of the new EID tags and the matching conventional tags is yellow, but keepers may have the option of choosing a different colour for the matching conventional tag if this is useful for on-farm management purposes.  Replacement EID and conventional tags will be red, unless the animal is being re-tagged on its flock of birth, or the keeper sends the old and new tag numbers to APHIS Online. (www.ruralni.gov.uk/aphis)
• Existing green tags cannot be used for any animal born or identified after 1 January 2010. This applies to ALL animals that are currently on farm that have not yet been tagged, whatever their Date of Birth.  If these sheep have NO tags in place (either because they have not been tagged yet, or because all tags have been lost) they should be tagged with a new EID tag set.

• Sheep born and tagged before 31 December 2009 (older sheep) can move with the green tag(s) they have in place at present, until 31 May 2010.  One green tag is sufficient.  There is no need, and it is not permitted, to apply movement tags if they have not yet been applied.
• All animals not yet tagged, or that have lost all of their tags, must be tagged with a new EID tag set and not the old green tags.
• All older sheep with a green tag presently on farm must be upgraded to EID from 1 June 2010, but only when they move off the holding. A yellow EID tag set must be applied but the green tag(s) do not have to be removed.  You do not have to cross-reference the old and new tags in your flock register.
• An older sheep will never have to be upgraded to EID if it does not leave your holding and has at least one old green tag in place.

• Most keepers will not have to buy or use EID readers as markets and meat plants have agreed to read the EID tags on behalf of keepers when animals move to or from their premises, acting as Central Points of Recording (or CPRs).
• When the animals’ tags are read at the market or meat plant, the keeper will be given a paper receipt listing the tag numbers. The keeper must keep this receipt, and their copy of the movement document, with their holding register.
• The keeper will therefore not have to list the tag numbers on the movement document if the animals are moving to these premises.  If animals are moving to another farm, or to premises not approved as a CPR, the seller will have to list the tag numbers on the movement document, but this can be done manually.
• For animals born before 31 December 2009, the current export rules will continue until 31 May 2010 with the blue export tag being required – a single blue tag for the RoI and a double matching set for GB.
• For movements of older animals (born before 31 December 2009) until 31 May 2010 (that is,  that have not yet been upgraded to EID) there is no need to record tag numbers on movement documents.  Movement tags will not be applied to these animals either.  From 1 June 2010, these animals will be upgraded to EID before they move which will allow their tag number to be recorded.

• Keepers will retain their existing flock or herd number.  To create tag numbers, this will have the digit ‘’1’’ placed in front of it.  These will be included in the tag numbers as shown below.

• Each tag number in Northern Ireland will therefore begin with the digits “17”.  Each flock will be allocated the following individual animal numbers – 00001 to 99999.

• Single Tag Loss, Home Bred - For a sheep born on the holding losing one tag (either the EID or conventional tag), use the next yellow tag pair in sequence. The remaining tag should be removed.  If the sheep was born after EID comes in (i.e. from 31 December 2009) the old and new tag numbers must be cross-referenced in the holding register. If the tag was lost in an older animal, simply record the use of the new tag, but not the old tag number.  Keepers will not have to order a new tag with the same number as the lost tag, unless they want to do so.
• Single Tag Loss, Bought In - If the sheep was not born on the holding and loses one tag, a pair of Red replacement tags must be used and the old and new tag numbers cross-referenced in the holding register.  If you cross-reference the old and new tag numbers on APHIS Online instead of in your flock register, a yellow replacement tag may be used.
• Both Tags Lost – For bought in animals use a pair of Red replacement tags. For home bred animals use the next set of yellow tags. In both cases, no cross reference will be possible, but you must record the use of the new tags.
• Upgrading older animals to EID for the first time – A yellow EID tag set must be applied but the old green tag(s) do not have to be removed.  You do not have to cross-reference the old and new tags in your flock register - but you must record the use of the new tags.

• New flock books will be issued within the next few weeks. These will be very similar to existing books, requiring details such as births, deaths, movements (in and out) and the replacement tag cross-reference to be recorded.
• It will be easier to complete movement documents for mart and abattoir moves as no individual tag numbers are needed.  Instead, you must make a single entry to cross-reference the tag number list provided by the Central Point of Recording. You still have to list individual tag numbers on movement documents for farm to farm moves, and send a copy to DARD.  

For full details please see the DARD Guidance for keepers on the Identification and Movement of Sheep and Goats document, or the accompanying Frequently Asked Questions document .