10% of tested flocks breached EID read rates Market round-up

Farming correspondent

Friday 27 July 2012

Figures released by the Scottish Government yesterday revealed that 64 of the 650 flocks, nearly 10%, inspected in 2011 received some form of cross-compliance penalty for breaching sheep electronic identification (EID) rules.

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That alarming statistic suggests around 1300 Scottish sheep producers are at risk of receiving penalty notices.

There were five businesses that breached the EID read rates verifiable standard who all received a 1% cross-compliance penalty, while 57 were in breach of other tagging and recording requirements, and were also penalised.

Two of the 64 flocks at fault got away with a warning letter, 12 had their payments reduced by 1%, 28 by 3%, 19 by 5%, two by a crippling 15% or more, while one producer lost an eye-watering 50%.Applying those figures to the Scottish sheep industry implies that more than 60 producers are at risk of having at least 15% deducted from payments.NFU Scotland president Nigel Miller said: "The inspection review shows that some flocks are handling the system well, but highlights for us all the compliance traps that are likely to cause problems."The main trip wires at inspection are, as they have been for several years, getting tagging and re-tagging right, and the record keeping. At times record keeping seems to overwhelm, but the Scottish Government's yellow flock register provides all the information required at inspection. The challenge is to ensure that even the record of tagging and re-tagging is kept up to date."THE Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers' Mart had 42 prime cattle forward at its weekly sale in Dumfries on Wednesday. Bullocks sold to 224.5p per kg and averaged 200.4p, while heifers peaked at 225.5p and levelled at 206.6p.There were also 55 OTM cattle forward with beef cows averaging 143.2p and dairy cows levelling at 109.8p. In the sheep ring, 937 prime lambs sold to £92.50 per head and 226p per kg to average 200.2p. A small show of 161 cast sheep saw heavy ewes sell to £102.50 for Texels and average £76.46, while light ewes peaked at £69.50 for Blackfaces and levelled at £47.43.Craig Wilson sold 960 prime lambs in Newton Stewart on Wednesday to a top of £96.50 and 230.6p to average 199.2p.The firm also had 194 cast sheep forward that sold at recent rates with heavy ewes peaking at £116 for Texels and light ewes bid to £63 for Blackfaces.United Auctions sold 312 store bullocks at Stirling on Wednesday to a top of 239p and an average of 193.6p (-3.2p on the week), while heifers peaked at 250p and levelled at 191.9p (-0.2p).In the rough ring, 106 cast cows averaged 138.8p.Craig Wilson sold 176 store bullocks (including 73 Friesians) at Ayr yesterday to average 186.7p, while 120 store heifers levelled at 189.8p.

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10% of tested flocks breached EID read rates Market round-up

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