The numbers of new and replacement bovine animal identification ear tags issued during the last seven years are set out in the following table.
|
Calendar Year
|
No. of New Tags Sets
|
No. of replacement Pairs of Tags
|
No. of replacement Single Tags
|
|
1998
|
2,560,891
|
71,197
|
283,300
|
|
1999
|
3,181,250
|
83,753
|
366,694
|
|
2000
|
2,371,142
|
83,885
|
329,594
|
|
2001
|
2,435,235
|
81,596
|
275,266
|
|
2002
|
3,070,817
|
85,249
|
274,237
|
|
2003
|
2,301,898
|
93,871
|
271,514
|
|
2004
|
2,277,262
|
104,868
|
272,720
|
The increase in the number of tags issued in 1999 arose because of a change in the tag numbering format from 1 January 1999. The increase in the number of tags issued in 2002 reflects the initiative undertaken by my Department in tagging the remaining portion of the national herd that up to that time had been tagged using a single brass tag. The entire bovine population is now tagged with double plastic tags and this is reflected in the overall number of replacement tags requested.
I am satisfied that the current system of double tagging bovine animals with plastic tags is the most efficient and practical form of identification available at present. However, my Department is currently researching the possible future use of electronic means of identification for bovine animals.
