More than 30 representatives from the sheep sector, including NFU Scotland have united behind proposals to reform cumbersome and financially draining regulation on splitting lamb carcases.

The National Sheep Association (NSA) and the farming unions have been pushing for reform of the EU rules on TSEs (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies) and carcase splitting, and while undoing layers of red tape laid down by Europe is a slow process, industry representatives believe more immediate gains can be made by the UK implementation of the rules.

Current European regulation on TSEs requires spinal cord to be removed from sheep of more than 12 months of age, or which have one permanent incisor erupted through the gum. UK domestic regulation, which is an interpretation of the larger EU ruling, requires carcases to be split for the removal of spinal cord and currently uses the "mouthing" of sheep as the mechanism to determine which carcases need to be split. Mouthing of sheep to determine age was the best option when the TSE rules first came in, but since then sheep identification systems have moved on considerably.

Phil Stocker, NSA chief executive explained: "Sheep identification rules for the whole of the UK state that lambs are deemed to be 12 months old from 30th June each calendar year. It is impossible to record individual birth dates for all lambs born, so the calendar date provides a clear cut-off that farmers can work to and which the EU has accepted as suitable for the UK situation."

Industry leaders believe changing to a calendar date will provide some much needed clarity for everyone involved and remove the cost of mouthing sheep. They are also confident it provides Europe with the food safety requirements that they dictate.

Officials in Defra (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs), and the three devolved administrations, as well as the Food Standards Agency in all four nations have welcomed the sheep industry's initiative.

Market round-up

The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart had 33 prime cattle forward in Dumfries yesterday when heifers sold to 224.5p per kg and averaged 213.3p, while bullocks peaked at 230p and levelled at 212.9p.

There were 65 OTM cattle presented in the rough ring when beef cows averaged 132.8p and dairy cows levelled at 97.4p.

The firm also sold 692 prime hoggs to a top of £95 per head and 211p per kg to average 188.1p (-10.1p on the week).

The 468 cast sheep forward saw heavy ewes sell to £118.50 for Cheviot Mules and average £88.03 (-£3.39), while light ewes peaked at £100 for Cheviots and levelled at £63.02 (-£1.94).