The organisation confirmed it has been in discussions with DAERA over potential problems surrounding cattle identity.

Many of the issues that arise are about the sex, colour or breed of the animal, and the UFU said many of the problems are down to human error.

UFU deputy president Victor Chestnutt said that when DAERA is unwilling to resolve identity queries, the movement of cattle is restricted and this affects farmers.

“They can only go direct for slaughter. This is limiting farmers’ marketing options, potentially reducing the animal’s value while creating practical problems on the farm,” he warned.

World-leading traceability

The UFU deputy president also called for flexibility from DAERA as this would allow identity issues to resolved quickly on the farm, without posing a risk to the integrity of traceability.

“Farmers here keep detailed herd records and we have a world-leading traceability system that should allow for mistakes to be corrected.

“A commonsense solution from DAERA could maintain the traceability of our cattle, while ensuring as many as possible secure their full value from the market,” he said.

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