Auctioneers welcome call for sheep database

The Livestock Auctioneers Association has welcomed the support given by the National Sheep Association for a movement database for sheep

The present system is out of date and following the introduction of EID tags we are now in a position to provide a high quality and accurate database that can replace the existing paper movement recording process, which is inefficient and arguably not fit for purpose, said Chris Dodds, Executive Secretary of the Livestock Auctioneers Association.

All livestock keepers are required to keep records of all their livestock movements to ensure that livestock is both identifiable and traceable.

Currently this is done manually.

The time is now right for a new system which involves the whole industry; the technology now exists to make this system simple and fair to all sheep farmers.  We hope that the National Farmers Union will publicly support this initiative along with other key players in the interest of the sheep industry as a whole, added Mr Dodds. 

The Livestock Auctioneers Association is the national organisation representing auctioneering firms which occupy and run the livestock auction markets of England and Wales. Its members handle the vast majority of all auction sales of farm livestock. The Association is also supported by representatives of the Institute of Appraisers and Auctioneers in Scotland