Animal Health & Welfare

The current system in Scotland depends on tagging sheep in the left ear (viewed from behind the sheep) with a baseline tag showing the holding of the birth flock/herd number and sequential number.

If done badly, tagging has the potential to cause more pain than necessary and to cause infection which may subsequently reduce animal health and performance. Tags in infected ears usually have to be removed to help the infection clear up, resulting in further handling stress, pain from later re-tagging and extra labour input. Tagging correctly first time round makes both economic and welfare sense.

Summary of ear tagging regulations

• All sheep are to be tagged (in the left ear) on the holding of birth with a flock tag and sequential number, e.g. UK516432    000135
• No additional tag is needed if moved directly to slaughter
• Prior to moving to a second holding, a second tag should be inserted into the right ear. The tag should bear the flock mark of the second holding and individual number, e.g. S579241   000021
• No additional tag is needed if moved directly to slaughter or market.
• If moving to a third holding, a third tag is added to the right ear bearing the flock mark of the third holding and sequential number, e.g. S412312   000002
• No additional tagging is necessary if moving directly to slaughter or market
• Further movements require individual animal identification.

Top Tagging Tips

First tag

• Tag lambs for slaughter close to the point of dispatch from the farm, acute pain of tagging and transporting is less than the chronic pain associated with infected ears and retagging.
• Don't leave the tagging of store or breeding lambs to the day that the lambs leave the farm. Try to do it the week before. Lambs travelling with bleeding ears will be stressed and liable to infection.
• Restrain the lamb firmly between your legs or in a similar secure position. Do not tag the lambs over the edge of the race - they may jump causing a split in the ear.
• The baseline tag should be inserted at least one-third of the distance away from the head along the underside of the sheep's left ear. Insert tags with the male part pushed through from the back of the ear.
• Use only tags which meet requirements and show flock number and a six figure sequential number.
• Apply tags under hygienic conditions, not on a wet day or if the lambs are dirty.
• Do not tag diseased lambs or lambs showing signs of Orf (scabby mouth).
• Do not tag through the cartilage ridge as this can result in a dropped ear.

Secondary (And Subsequent) Tags
[Many of the same rules apply as with the first tag]

• The second tag is inserted into the right ear before moving. It should bear the flock mark of the second holding and individual number.
• When putting the second tag in the ear, place it close enough to the head so that enough room is left on the outside for another tag.
• If moving to a third holding, a third tag is also inserted into the right ear bearing the flock mark of the third holding and sequential number.