On the 7th July, I attended a farming advice service event which covered topics from pesticide use, environmental options to cross compliance changes.  What I found to be of great interest to me, especially in the work I do at WhiteAvon Consultancy, was the Inspection Overview and the top 10 areas farmers are failing to comply with Cross Compliance.
The results showed that TB testing, cattle identification and registration, sheep and goat identification, and animal welfare were in the top 10.
So why is it that livestock farmers are struggling the most?  Is it the paperwork?  The detail that inspectors want to see?  Or the scale and complexity of the farming business?

If you feel you are in this situation, consider these few management tips:
• Invest in an EID reader!  There are a whole range of makes and models on the market now that can help with flock management and admin, and can be tailored to your needs.
• Tags – tags will inevitably fall out, but this is an area which inspectors will look at, and therefore carry out regular ear tag checks, and purchase replacement tags as soon as possible.  Correct tagging and timings are also crucial.  Sheep over 12 months of age must be double tagged. Slaughter animals single EID tag less than 12 months of age.  Sheep and goats born on a holding must be correctly identified within 6 month (intensively) and 9 months (extensively) or before they leave the holding – whichever is earliest.  This must be recorded in the holding register.  EID tagging in cattle is optional at the moment; nevertheless a tag in each ear identifying herd number and individual number is correct.
• Records and Movement – 71% of all cattle breaches were due to movements.  Either through failing to report movements, failing to notify deaths or failing to record information correctly.  Notify with BCMS within 3 days for movements, 7 days for deaths and 27 days for registering births.
• TB testing – 1,061 cases failing to comply with the TB rules were made in 2015.  All eligible cattle must be injected within the window, and the reading must be completed 72 hours after the injection.  APHA notify cattle keepers in writing of their TB testing window, therefore book your test as soon as you are notified.  Pre-movement test results are valid for 60 days from the date of inspection.
For further information or for help and guidance with an inspection or movement records please contact Steph at stephemmerson@fcgagric.com or your local FCG office.