Sheep tagging is driving away farmers - claim (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Sheep tagging is driving away farmers - claim

6:00pm Monday 6th July 2009 in

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LEADING organisations in agriculture have spoken out against the proposals to introduce compulsory electronic identity tagging of sheep.

The National Sheep Association (NSA) and Rare Breed Survival Trust (RBST) believe the European Union proposals are unnecessary and expensive.

The NSA says people are leaving “in droves” because of the lack of income and the continued threat of new regulations.

A spokesman said: “We urge government in all parts of the UK to act positively in recognition of the irreplaceable benefits which sheep and the people who look after them bring to the economy, the environment and the fabric of our rural communities. It will be no good crying about it after the damage is done.”

A spokesman for the Rare Breed Survival Trust (RBST) said its investigations showed the additional costs and regulation would “severely reduce” the number of keepers of native breeds at risk.

He added: “These breeders already keep detailed and accurate records of their pedigree sheep. A survey carried out by RBST in 2008 indicated that 32 per cent of owners of sheep breeds at risk intended to cease keeping such stock within three years specifically as a result of the introduction of EID.”