Six marts approved to read electronic sheep tags

EID tag reading systems are now being rolled out in marts across the country.

Barry Cassidy

31 July 2019

Six marts approved to read electronic sheep tags

Richard Kirwan, mart manager in New Ross said its EID system had been going reasonably well.

There are now six sheep marts approved to read electronic sheep and lamb tags (EID). Since 1 June farmers have been required to tag all sheep and lambs with EID tags.

The marts approved to read EID tags as a central point of recording are New Ross Mart, Carnaross Mart, Clare Co-operative Mart and Cork Co-operative Marts in Fermoy, Macroom and Cahir.

Farmers bringing stock to these marts for sale are not required to fill out individual tag numbers on dispatch dockets. The mart will provide a print out for farmers.

Richard Kirwan, mart manager in New Ross said its system has been going reasonably well.

Kirwan said: “We thought we’d embrace it as it makes life easier on the farmer. Mart day is on a Monday so we had farmers getting stock in on a Sunday to try and read them. They no longer have to do that.”

Grant aid to marts for EID equipment doubled

First test for full electronic identification