Bovine TB

Cattle identification and tracing

There is a legal requirement for cattle keepers to report and record all cattle movements both on and off their holding such as sales between farms; to slaughter; to market; to showground or between separately managed herds at the same farm, to the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS).

Cattle identification and traceability is a vital part of disease control. Regulations are laid down in European and UK law which place responsibility for cattle ID and tracing on all cattle keepers. Information, held in the Cattle Tracing System (CTS), is required by European legislation to ensure there is a complete movement history from birth to death for every animal. In the event of a disease outbreak this enables checking of an animal’s current location and history. It also protects consumers by ensuring that products going into the human food chain are fully traceable and safe.

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA), through the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) runs Great Britain’s Cattle Tracing System (CTS) database on behalf of the English, Scottish and Welsh Ministers.

Only cattle that are identified by means of an ear tag and have a cattle passport in accordance with the requirements of the Cattle Identification (Scotland) Regulations 2007 are eligible for compensation.