This week, the Scottish bovine EID stakeholder group met to unanimously agree a numbering system for future electronic tags. The group included reps from the livestock farming unions, the dairy sector and the processors. The agreement is a step forward towards electronic tags in cattle. It is hoped that the option chosen will not require the retagging of any animals.

Chair of the group and NFU Scotland president, Andrew McCornick said: “We are pressing to get progress as soon as possible. It was a good meeting and a unanimous agreement was easily achieved, which is impressive, considering the complexity of the topic.

“We want to get this moving and I appreciate that these has been significant frustration over the lack of change over the last 20 years.”