The ScotEID website
About the Scottish Research Pilot
To deal with the EU Regulations coming into effect this year, the ScotEID research pilot is developing practical solutions for Scottish sheep flocks.The work includes installing and testing readers at auction markets, abattoirs and other Critical Control Points (CCPs), and scaling up the ScotEID database and data systems for this year’s lamb crop before the regulations come in to full effect in 2011.
ScotEID invites every Scottish sheep farmer to join the Pilot as a Partner Farm. After joining, every Partner farm will receive assistance with tag costs for lambs born in 2010.
The individual ID’s from these tags being read at CCPs will augment the existing batch system to provide traceability in real time. Partner farms will be able to log onto the ScotEID database and see the individual numbers of their lambs as they move through each CCP.
Tagging Issues
WARNING: Please be careful, it is illegal to use last years eartags on animals first identified or born after 31st December 2009.
Some keepers are currently experiencing delays when ordering tags. Currently approximately 2-3 weeks appears to be the average but some delays of up to 7 weeks have been experienced. Please ensure that you order your tags now to ensure they arrive in time. If you need tags quickly it is recommended that you contact the ScotEID Information Centre (01466 794323) for advice on the current delivery times for the various suppliers.
If you have complaints about your tags or have experienced welfare issues it is very important that you complete and return the complaints/welfare form that you should have received with your tags. If your tag supplier did not include this form please contact them to request a form or download a copy. The data from these forms is important for gathering evidence and identifying problems.
Important Guidance Information
The Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary's Announcement of 27th January 2010The Scottish Government Guidance Notes
The ScotEID Research Pilot Team's Summary of Guidance Notes
Fixed Reader Installations - In Scottish CCP's
Mon, 08/03/2010 - 3:14am — administrator
General notes on fixed readers
Many of the readers use the free & open ScotEID software to upload data to the ScotEID database in real time. This allows the readers to be tested and data uploaded before further software integration need be considered.For markets the physical layout of the location and the positioning of the reader can have a dramatic impact on throughput and may require some experimenting. Positioning the reader so that sheep can see other sheep or a long empty run on the other side seems to give better results.
For Abattoirs background Radio Frequency noise varies greatly from location to location and can cause significant problems. This can be difficult to alleviate although the antenna type and orientation can be altered to minimise noise.
Lot separation is generally achieved by means of either a push button on the reader, a touchscreen on a linked computer or a special 'lot sperator' RFID card.
Handheld Readers used in phase 1 of the Pilot
Due to the absence of "off the shelf" auction market readers during most of the first phase of the Pilot, handheld readers were primarily used for data gathering. For the purpose of basic lot/batch recording the Pilot team found the simple stick type of readers to be the most useful. However, this type of reader may be less suitable for more complex farm managements purposes.
The readers which recorded a date and time for each ID were found to be particularly useful. The date/time data can be used to identify lots more easily when a large number of lots over multiple days are stored on the reader. Most importantly if the operator fails to add a 'lot seperator' between lots the date/time data can be used to identify where one lot ends and the next lot starts. Several of the smaller abattoirs are using Agrident sticks to read the sheep in pens.
