Many farmers still use the ‘blue book’ as their herd register despite the facility being available online.

The requirement to maintain a bovine herd register is one of the four pillars of the Bovine Animal Identification and Traceability System and is required by EC Commission Regulations.

Under these regulations, herd keepers are required to record all births and movements/disposals in the Herd Register of Bovine Animals known as the ‘blue book’.

However the Department has simplified the process of maintaining cattle records for herd keepers using the electronic register Agfood.ie. by removing the requirement to maintain the paper on farm bovine herd register.

The Department highlights that keepers who wish to avail of this facility must complete a declaration agreeing to abide by the Terms and Conditions.

It says such farmers are required to ensure the information on the electronic register reflects the activity in their herd and is accurate.

According to the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney if information is not maintained by the farmer, it will still constitute a penalty at inspection if the on-farm position is not accurately reflected in AIM.

The herd register has always been one of the options available to farmers for keeping the Animal Remedies Record. Nowadays however, many farmers prefer to maintain the Record electronically on their PCs. The Department says the important thing is that, in whatever format it is maintained, the Record contains the information specified in the EU regulations.

According to the Minister the electronic register initiative facilitates the optimum use of the Department’s records to reduce the burden of record keeping for farmers and other stakeholders and confers significant benefits for stakeholders including reduced bureaucracy, removal of duplication, increased flexibility and reduced risk associated with financial penalties arising at cross compliance inspections.