THE National Sheep Association has urged members to ensure EID tags they buy are competitively priced – and suited to the sheep and conditions they are managed under.

The vast majority of farmers do not now need electronic tag readers or computer software to comply with the regulations which come in next year.

But the focus has switched to the tags themselves and to ensuring farmers buy the right tags for their sheep.

With some tag types now approved and prices starting to be advertised, the NSA said the value of the microchip seems to be about 50p.

It therefore believes farmers should only be paying 50p more for an electronic version of the tag they already use.

If a tag has a microchip and a different design, it should not be a reason for them to be hugely more expensive.

Peter Morris, NSA chief executive, said farmers at EID information meetings organised by the NSA, and supported by Eblex and the Livestock Auctioneers’ Association, had shown a lot of interest in choosing tags and their possible cost.

He said: “Paying about 50p more for a microchip in the tag seems to be a good rule of thumb for farmers to use when making their decisions.”

Tag loss remains a major issue, with farmers reporting rates of less than one per cent a year to more than 25pc in a few cases.

The NSA has told farmers that many factors influence tag retention and loss, some of which are under the control of the farmer.

Mr Morris said: “Farmers buying red replacement tags under the new rules can buy them as part of their run of tags and they should therefore only cost the same as other tags.

“However, the aim should be not to have the tag loss in the first place.

“Using the right applicator is important, as is taking time to put the tag in the correct part of the ear to aid retention.”

NSA is concerned that, with only a few weeks to go before the new rules are introduced, many tags are still awaiting approval, making current tag options quite limited.

The current approved tags are listed on the Rural Payments Agency website.

NSA EID meetings are at Skipton mart at 2.30pm and Thirsk mart at 7pm on Tuesday; Penrith Mart, on Monday, December 7, at 2.30pm; and Hexham mart, on Tuesday, December 8, at 7pm.