The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has approved four further marts to read electronic sheep tags.

All sheep farmers, since June 1, 2019, have been required to tag all sheep and lambs with electronic identification (EID) tags.

This now brings the total number of marts approved to read electronic sheep tags to 28.

The new software module allows the mart to use the new Government Animal Identification Movement or AIM Ovine interface for sheep.

All sheep, including lambs presented for sale, must be identified with a full set of EID tags; this includes one conventional tag in the animal’s left ear and a corresponding electronic tag placed in the right ear.

Furthermore, there are currently five sheep plants that have been approved by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as a Central Point of Recording (CPR) as of June 5, 2019.

These are: Dawn Meats, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo; Irish Country Meats, Navan, Co. Meath; Irish Country Meats, Camolin, Co. Wexford; Kepak Ltd, Athleague, Co. Roscommon; and Kildare Chilling Company, Kildare Town, Co. Kildare.