I was asked this week again about why I promote EID in Dogs. To simplify things, let's look at the importance of having a regular everyday dog tag.
Importance of Having a Dog Tag
I cannot stress the extreme importantance of having a Dog ID Tag. For starters, every dog must have a dog tag by law. If they run away or escape and the dog warden catches them, they have 5 days to live. In this 5 days, if you do not collect your dog, it will be PTS !
At least with a dog tag, there is a chance that a wandering or lost dog can return home. Dog tags are an essential part of having a dog - even if you dog never leaves the house, you never know when it will accidentally escape when visitors come.
Dog tags make getting lost dogs home to you quicker and easier.
All implementing EID can do for is to speed this process up.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Tag Prices
The new EID tagging system being brought in for sheep will likely mean that the price for RFID chips will drop across the range. This means that our Dog, Horse and Cat identifiers will come down in price because of the high number of RFID chips being ordered by Irish farmers.
I've put together a table of some of the current prices quoted by tag suppliers for the farmers market as I called around.
QuickTag
Slaughter 18c
EID €1.30
Mulinahone
Slaughter 18c
EID €1.30
Applicator €22
EliteTags
Slaughter 15c
EID €1.19
Applicator €6.37
Agrihealth
Slaughter 34
EID 1.30
Ritchey Tag
Slaughter 25c
EID €1.33
At the moment it seems EliteTags ( http://elitetagsireland.com ) are out in front. We should hope for prices to continually drop and we'll soon see our dog tags costing as much as it would to have "Fido" printed on the front!!!
I've put together a table of some of the current prices quoted by tag suppliers for the farmers market as I called around.
QuickTag
Slaughter 18c
EID €1.30
Mulinahone
Slaughter 18c
EID €1.30
Applicator €22
EliteTags
Slaughter 15c
EID €1.19
Applicator €6.37
Agrihealth
Slaughter 34
EID 1.30
Ritchey Tag
Slaughter 25c
EID €1.33
At the moment it seems EliteTags ( http://elitetagsireland.com ) are out in front. We should hope for prices to continually drop and we'll soon see our dog tags costing as much as it would to have "Fido" printed on the front!!!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Ireland Slow On The Uptake Over EID
While electronic identification (EID) tagging officially became law at the end of last year, it did not actually come into effect until 14 May 2010, when the official numbers system was implemented.
Tag companies believe they've been kept in the dark.
The rules state that lambs born since the beginning of this year that are kept for breeding will have to be EID tagged. Unlike Northern Ireland, EID will be gradually phased in.
There are three options for replacing lost tags. Where one tag is lost, a farmer can order a new tag (EID or conventional) displaying the same number. Alternatively a farmer can order a new set of tags (EID and conventional) and correlate the new numbers with the old number in the flock register.
Thirdly, if an animal moves off their birth holding and identity is lost, they should receive double red tags.
These animals must go direct to slaughter when moved off the farm, as identity for birth of origin and traceability is lost.
Electronic readers do not need to be purchased. All tags will have all details of the numbering system printed on one side of the tag.
The other side can be used for manual recording of additional information.
Existing dispatch dockets can continue to be used, although the Department has said new documents will come later in the year.
These will include declarations for the new food chain information programme. In short, this means that farmers will have to declare that animals have passed withdrawal dates, etc, before being slaughtered.
At a farm walk earlier this year, Department officials said that farmers will be required to notify their local district veterinary office of farm-to-farm movements after a certain date in 2010.
Companies supplying new electronic tags, conventional tags, slaughter tags and boluses will all be demonstrating their tag range at Sheep 2010.
Farmers will have a first-hand chance to research the full range of tags on the market, and examine what type of tag best suits their system. In addition, a number of tag companies will also be trading tag readers. While there is no requirement for farmers to purchase readers under the new regulations, those interested can also see what services readers on the market can provide.
All sheep destined for export must be double-tagged with an EID and conventional tag or receive a ruminal bolus. Lambs can be purchased for live export and upgraded to EID status by the exporter, who can insert a new set of tags and reconcile the new number to the original number in their flock register.
FarmersJournal.ie
Tag companies believe they've been kept in the dark.
The rules state that lambs born since the beginning of this year that are kept for breeding will have to be EID tagged. Unlike Northern Ireland, EID will be gradually phased in.
There are three options for replacing lost tags. Where one tag is lost, a farmer can order a new tag (EID or conventional) displaying the same number. Alternatively a farmer can order a new set of tags (EID and conventional) and correlate the new numbers with the old number in the flock register.
Thirdly, if an animal moves off their birth holding and identity is lost, they should receive double red tags.
These animals must go direct to slaughter when moved off the farm, as identity for birth of origin and traceability is lost.
Electronic readers do not need to be purchased. All tags will have all details of the numbering system printed on one side of the tag.
The other side can be used for manual recording of additional information.
Existing dispatch dockets can continue to be used, although the Department has said new documents will come later in the year.
These will include declarations for the new food chain information programme. In short, this means that farmers will have to declare that animals have passed withdrawal dates, etc, before being slaughtered.
At a farm walk earlier this year, Department officials said that farmers will be required to notify their local district veterinary office of farm-to-farm movements after a certain date in 2010.
Companies supplying new electronic tags, conventional tags, slaughter tags and boluses will all be demonstrating their tag range at Sheep 2010.
Farmers will have a first-hand chance to research the full range of tags on the market, and examine what type of tag best suits their system. In addition, a number of tag companies will also be trading tag readers. While there is no requirement for farmers to purchase readers under the new regulations, those interested can also see what services readers on the market can provide.
All sheep destined for export must be double-tagged with an EID and conventional tag or receive a ruminal bolus. Lambs can be purchased for live export and upgraded to EID status by the exporter, who can insert a new set of tags and reconcile the new number to the original number in their flock register.
FarmersJournal.ie
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
MEP's want to delay electronic sheep-tagging
IRISH farmers have welcomed efforts by the European Parliament to postpone the compulsory electronic tagging of sheep and goats, on the basis that it would cause excessive costs to farmers in a time of economic crisis
MEPs have voted in favour of deferring the measure which was imposed by the European Commission at the start of this year.
The Irish Farmers Association has consistently opposed compulsory electronic tagging, or EID as it is known, insisting that Ireland already has an effective individual sheep tagging system. An IFA spokesperson said EID will give nothing to farmers "other than additional costs, bureaucracy and red tape".
Independent MEP Marian Harkin, who also warmly welcomed the move, said the Parliament has called for an amnesty of three years on compliance penalties related to compulsory sheep tagging.
"We also want the commission to carry out a thorough review of the regulation, given that it is a complex technology and will require some time for farmers to get used to," she added.
The Irish Farmers Association has consistently opposed compulsory electronic tagging, or EID as it is known, insisting that Ireland already has an effective individual sheep tagging system. An IFA spokesperson said EID will give nothing to farmers "other than additional costs, bureaucracy and red tape".
Independent MEP Marian Harkin, who also warmly welcomed the move, said the Parliament has called for an amnesty of three years on compliance penalties related to compulsory sheep tagging.
"We also want the commission to carry out a thorough review of the regulation, given that it is a complex technology and will require some time for farmers to get used to," she added.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Northern Ireland EID
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has reminded sheep producers that from Tuesday of this week, June 1, the movement rules for sheep changed. From that date, all sheep being moved off their registered holding must be tagged with an electronic (EID) tag.
This includes movements to shows and exports, and applies both to lambs born this year and older sheep, whose tags must be upgraded to EID before they move.
A movement document must be completed each time sheep are moved, but if the sheep are moving to a market or meat plant approved as a Central Point of Recording (CPR), tag numbers do not need to be recorded. The CPR will provide the keeper with a list of tag numbers, which he/she must retain with their copy of the movement document.
When buying sheep at a market a movement document, containing tag numbers for all sheep in the consignment, will be issued to the keeper. It is the keeper's responsibility to cross-reference all movement documents, for movements on and off their holding, in their flock register. To ensure that traceability is maintained, it is important that accurate records are kept. In the event of being selected for a cross-compliance inspection, keepers will be required to present CPR tag lists, movement documents and flock registers for checking.
It is also the responsibility of the keeper to check the accuracy of documents given to them by a CPR and, if necessary, to seek correction if they are incomplete or inaccurate. If the CPR cannot resolve the query, keepers should contact their DARD Regional Office to notify them of the discrepancy.
In anticipation of the changes, DARD and a number of local livestock markets are teaming up to provide training and demonstrations to help keepers comply with the new rules. Further details of these events can be found on the DARD website at www.dardni.gov.uk/news-dard-pa107-a-10-sheep-eid-get.
The introduction of sheep EID is an EU obligation under Council Regulation 21/2004 and requires the individual identity of sheep and goats born after 31 December 2009 to be recorded when they are moved. In order to allow this to be achieved for sheep, the Regulation requires them to be identified with an EID device and a conventional tag.
Although the Council Regulation is directly applicable here, the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order (NI) 2009 SR No. 411 defines offences, penalties, derogations and some additional provisions necessary to implement the Regulation here.
The objective is to make it easier to trace individual animals, especially in a serious disease outbreak situation, such as Foot and Mouth Disease.
Animals presently on farm have to be upgraded to the new identification system from 1 June 2010, but only when they move off the holding.
This includes movements to shows and exports, and applies both to lambs born this year and older sheep, whose tags must be upgraded to EID before they move.
A movement document must be completed each time sheep are moved, but if the sheep are moving to a market or meat plant approved as a Central Point of Recording (CPR), tag numbers do not need to be recorded. The CPR will provide the keeper with a list of tag numbers, which he/she must retain with their copy of the movement document.
When buying sheep at a market a movement document, containing tag numbers for all sheep in the consignment, will be issued to the keeper. It is the keeper's responsibility to cross-reference all movement documents, for movements on and off their holding, in their flock register. To ensure that traceability is maintained, it is important that accurate records are kept. In the event of being selected for a cross-compliance inspection, keepers will be required to present CPR tag lists, movement documents and flock registers for checking.
It is also the responsibility of the keeper to check the accuracy of documents given to them by a CPR and, if necessary, to seek correction if they are incomplete or inaccurate. If the CPR cannot resolve the query, keepers should contact their DARD Regional Office to notify them of the discrepancy.
In anticipation of the changes, DARD and a number of local livestock markets are teaming up to provide training and demonstrations to help keepers comply with the new rules. Further details of these events can be found on the DARD website at www.dardni.gov.uk/news-dard-pa107-a-10-sheep-eid-get.
The introduction of sheep EID is an EU obligation under Council Regulation 21/2004 and requires the individual identity of sheep and goats born after 31 December 2009 to be recorded when they are moved. In order to allow this to be achieved for sheep, the Regulation requires them to be identified with an EID device and a conventional tag.
Although the Council Regulation is directly applicable here, the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order (NI) 2009 SR No. 411 defines offences, penalties, derogations and some additional provisions necessary to implement the Regulation here.
The objective is to make it easier to trace individual animals, especially in a serious disease outbreak situation, such as Foot and Mouth Disease.
Animals presently on farm have to be upgraded to the new identification system from 1 June 2010, but only when they move off the holding.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Serial Sheep Stealer?...
This follows a story in Donegal of a group of three young people who captured and tortured a sheep. While the two were sentence in court, one fled the district. Could this be a case of repetitive compulsion? Not for the faint of heart.
| THURSDAY, 03 JUNE 2010 | |
THE Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) is appealing to members of the public for information on two lambs that they rescued from unusual locations in the Liberties. The two lambs were abandoned on the night of Monday, May 24. One of them broke its leg after it had been cruelly flung over a 14-foot wall into a derelict building. The second was found by gardaí attached to Kevin Street wandering the streets and was rescued by members of the DSPCA. Christened ‘Sooty’ and ‘Sweep’, as they are black and white in colour, both lambs are currently recovering at the DSPCA sanctuary in Rathfarnham. They are estimated to be between 12 and 16 weeks’ old and both have had identification collars ripped from their ears. According to Orla Aungier, operations director: “Sweep, who had been thrown into the derelict building, had to have his leg pinned by the vet as it was badly broken, but he is recovering well. “They are delightful creatures. What would possess somebody to steal these lambs from a farm, rip their identification tags from their ears and fling them over a 14-foot wall? “Abusing animals in such a manner is utterly depraved, and as we have warned time and time again, it is the kind of behaviour that is often an indicator crime of a dark, menacing personality that is likely to continue abusing – moving from animal abuse to child or domestic abuse.” Ms Aungier said the DSPCA has been working with the gardai over the past number of years in establishing how a cycle of abuse can be identified. “The lambs have their owner’s initials ‘PH’ painted onto their coats but because the tags were ripped from their ears we have no way of locating him,” Ms Aungier added. “We are calling on members of the public to advise us if they recognise this mark.” The DSPCA is Ireland’s oldest animal welfare organisation and it is celebrating 170 years at the heart of animal welfare this year. |
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