Lib Dem AM attacks sheep tagging plans

Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, Mick Bates AM, has criticised the Welsh Government for failing to protect the Welsh farming industry from the impacts of EID and states Wales must continue to oppose the regulation until EID equipment secures the confidence of the industry.

Mr Bates said: "In Wales we have nearly nine million sheep so the impact of compulsory electronic identification of sheep will be widespread. Farm incomes are decreasing and farmers can ill afford to spend their income on EID. This technology could cost thousands of pounds and will produce no additional benefits for identifying and tracing sheep than the current system offers.”

The latest Hybu Cig Cymru/WAG report showed significant reading issues on farm, at markets and at abattoir with only an 80% reading of tags at best.

Mr Bates added: “The reliability and accuracy of equipment used for EID falls far short of what is needed to individually record all sheep in Wales. There are many issues with compatibility, as well as problems with electrical interference at markets and abattoirs and faults in wet and cold conditions.

“Farmers can ill afford to adopt a system which is so unreliable and be penalised with reductions in payments because equipment forced upon them fails to deliver. It is crucial that Wales continues the fight against the imposition of this regulation, until assured that the equipment will work as closely as possible to 100% accuracy.”

Photograph: © Meirion Matthias @ Welsh Icons