Defra--Interim Progress Report on its Sheep EID/EDT Pilot

Originally from: mona parr
                        
http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2004/041105c.htm

INTERIM PROGRESS REPORT ON SHEEP ELECTRONIC IDENTIFICATION (EID) ELECTRONIC DATA TRANSFER (EDT) PILOT TRIAL

 
Defra has published an Interim Progress Report on its Sheep EID/EDT Pilot.

The trial is assessing ease of use of EID equipment. It is establishing training and support requirements for use of EID and EDT on farms, in abattoirs, and markets prior to the wider introduction of sheep EID from 1 January 2008.

It is also looking at potential benefits of EID/EDT for the sheep industry. The study is due to end in June 2005.

The trial is taking place in the North of England, South West and Midlands. It involves 69 farmers who have been selected to ensure a full range of environmental conditions, production systems and attitudes to technology.

More than 80,000 sheep have so far been electronically identified using a range of ear tags and boluses. In addition, use of EID and EDT is being examined and tested in a number of market and abattoir situations.

Progress with the project includes:

good engagement with the farming industry;
effective industry collaboration in scoping and developing protocols for abattoir trials;
adoption of a phased approach to market trials; first phase volumetric tests have been completed and the next phase will introduce EID and EDT into a market environment on a non-sale day;
strong preference for electronic tags rather than boluses amongst participant farmers but no evidence of related animal health and welfare issues where boluses have been used;
tests of EID hardware and software reliability and complexity;
a modular approach to farmer training has proved successful and training methods and support requirements continue to be monitored;
wider industry surveys have been conducted to establish a baseline for industry attitudes and awareness of EID The National Sheep Association, National Farmers Union, British Meat Processors Association and Livestock Auctioneers' Association were consulted during the setting up of the project and continue to be involved with project delivery.

Ben Bradshaw, Defra's Animal Health and Welfare Minister, said: 'I am pleased with the progress made by this study and related work being done in other parts of the UK. There is more work to do before electronic identification of sheep becomes mandatory from 2008. I am confident that by working with the sheep and EID industries, we can influence the Commission in relation to the practicalities of EID implementation for sheep.'

Notes for editors

1. The Sheep EID/EDT Pilot still has 9 months to run. This report is an Interim Progress Report to identify trends and highlight observations which will require to be addressed between now and the end of the trial, to ensure that Defra are in a position to inform EU implementation guidelines prior to the introduction of Sheep EID/EDT in 2008.

2. The EU Regulation for the identification of sheep and goats (21/04) makes EID compulsory for some sheep born on or after 1 January 2008. However, this is dependent on a Commission report on EID implementation due by 30 June 2006, and to be agreed by Council. This trial will help inform Defra and the sheep industry of some of the practical issues surrounding use of EID prior to implementation of this legislation, and will provide fact-based evidence to feed into the Commission report.

3. The objectives of the pilot are to:

fully test EID and Electronic Tracing systems working within the English Sheep industry (liaising with Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales in their initiatives). The aim is to test the effectiveness of EID in a live working environment, not to test or compare individual EID products.
promote EID and Electronic Tracing Systems, gain support and sell the concept to stakeholders.
analyse take up issues on the use of Electronic Tracing. The results will help inform the take up strategy required for the programme and the EU policy decision-making process.
identify and help prove the benefits of EID and Electronic Tracing to stakeholders. 4. Defra is working closely with the National Sheep Association, National Farmers Union, Livestock Auctioneers Association and British Meat Processors' Association in delivering this project and industry representatives will continue to be involved as the trial progresses.

5. In carrying out this project, Defra are liaising closely with the Devolved Administrations and colleagues in Northern Ireland who are conducting other EID/EDT trials, to ensure that results from this work and from other UK studies help build a bigger picture on the potential future use of EID and EDT technologies within the UK farming industry.

6. The contract for delivery of the pilot study was awarded to ADAS in January 2004, following an EU procurement process, which commenced on 4 July 2003.

7. The Interim Progress Report can be accessed on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tracing/sheep/eid/index.htm