New cattle tagging system on the way

A new tagging system for all cattle could be rolled out.

The prospective tag would cover BVD, genomics and DNA sampling, as well as acting as an identification and traceability tool.

It is understood that cattle tag manufacturer Allflex has been trialling such a tag ahead of a tendering process for cattle tags in 2016. Such a tag would be an enormous benefit to our reputation across the globe.

No indication has yet been given on what the cost of the new tag would be but IFA Animal Health chairman Bert Stewart said it must be farmer friendly.

While such a tag would cost more that current tags, it would be of enormous labour-saving benefit to farmers.

“Naturally we would welcome a new tag that would incorporate all samples into one system but it must be done in a way that reduces the overall cost to farmers,” Stewart.

Animal Health Ireland chairman Mike Magan would neither confirm nor deny that the new system was in the offing but he said he would welcome such a move.

“As chairman of Animal Health Ireland, I would be delighted to see such a tagging system introduced. It would be a terrific step forward and in terms of cattle breeding it would give us the edge over our competitors with regard to traceability and marketing,” Magan said.

The Department of Agriculture said: “The current contract for the supply of bovine tags is valid until October 2016 and a public procurement competition will be held in 2016 for the supply of bovine tags under a new contract. The issue of using a single tissue tag for the purposes of BVD and DNA will be taken in the context of that tender.”