Is the UK's livestock identification and traceability up to scratch?

There are 8.6 million cattle, 4.6 million pigs and 21.3 million sheep in the UK. If there was an outbreak of foot-and-mouth tomorrow, just how quickly would we be able to trace all those animals? Angela Calvert reports.

When foot-and-mouth disease brought UK agriculture to its knees a decade ago, one of the big issues to arise was just how tough it was to trace animal movements.

It is widely believed the disease crossed the country unseen, as animals were rapidly moved through auction marts, effectively giving FMD a headstart before it was even detected.

Following the FMD crisis of 2001, the six-day rule was introduced and any new outbreak today would trigger an immediate movement ban.
Concern

But for industry experts, concerns still remain about the nature of regulation which monitors animals movements in the UK.

Chris Dodds, executive secretary of the Livestock Auctioneers Association, has strong personal views on the situation.

“In the case of sheep, the current system does not offer timely traceability,” he says. “The problem is the time taken for data to be inputted by Trading Standards.

“In the 21st century there is clearly an alternative option where movements can be recorded on the same day.

“The bulk of movements are off-farm to markets and abattoirs and disease tends to occur in movements outside farm businesses, where animals are mixed.

“We need a one-stop electronic system where movements outside farm business can be recorded. It must be set up to accommodate everyone. That is not to say that all farmers must be forced to use an electronic system.

“It is my understanding that systems currently being developed could offer financial savings, so it would be a win-win situation all round.
Efficiencies

“I think bovine EID could bring efficiencies within the industry. With a paper trail genuine mistakes are made and the move to EID would have been simpler if it had been introduced in cattle first.”

Peter Morris, chief executive of the National Sheep Association, also has concerns about the state of the current system.

“In the event of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth, we need to know where groups of sheep are. If under real pressure, the Government’s AML database would not provide timely information,” he says. “All systems need regular updating and investment. The Government is obliged to be able to trace all animals, either in batches or individuals, depending on regulation, so we need to move systems forward.

“If we are to have EID and are individually recording animal movements, it makes sense for it to be used more effectively.”

The NFU’s chief livestock advisor, John Mercer, adds that, since 2001, the country has moved on with the traceability issue.
Bovine EID

“For one thing,” he says, “we have introduced the six-day standstill regulation.

“Cattle traceability currently works well and although we are keen to look at EID in cattle, it is a big step.

“What we really need to know in the event of a disease outbreak, particularly with sheep, is where batches of animals are on that day. We have the AML system, and before an electronic database for sheep could be introduced, we need to have all the answers, such as who would pay and what it would mean for different types of farming business - not everyone has the internet.

“Also, there are varying degrees of database - what do we really need to know. Before we could embark on such an undertaking, I think we need to have an open consultation with the industry as to what we need and exactly how it would work.”

Source Farmers Union