The creation of a new Livestock Information Service, which will provide farmers and processors with detailed information about animals and their movements, was announced by Defra this week.

The new service – which is expected to be operational next year – will set up a farm-to-fork traceability system which can identify and track animals via electronic IDs. It will also allow the wider industry to respond more efficiently in the event of a disease outbreak.

NFU Scotland livestock policy manager John Armour said: “In Scotland we are already using our own system for sheep traceability and the ambition is to see cattle traceability operate at a Scottish level.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson highlighted the need for the system to work across the UK: “Going forward it is important that the various systems across the UK are compatible and can provide a full picture of livestock movements.”