James Little, Harrison and Hetherington’s pedigree sales and business development manager, says there are two significant issues currently facing livestock farmers – Bluetongue and incoming EID regulations for cattle.
Mr Little says both will have ‘profound implications’ for the industry, particularly for those operation across the UK’s national borders, including Scotland.
“We’ve already seen how cross-border trading from Ireland has become more challenging. While stock can come over, it’s certainly not straightforward. With the logistical hurdles and health regulations in place, it’s effectively a one-way ticket, and this situation has already impacted H&H’s pedigree business.
“In light of recent announcements from Defra and the declaration of England as a Bluetongue zone, we are now seeing entries for our pedigree sales being withdrawn.”
He said: “Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland remain Bluetongue-free zones, and, given our geographical position, the very core of our business relies on trade between England and the other UK nations. These new restrictions will severely limit trade, making life significantly more difficult for sellers in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
“For those vaccinating against Bluetongue, we are consulting with our customers to understand what stock they will consider and what health conditions they require. “This is crucial in ensuring we provide considered and informed advice to both buyers and sellers”.
Mr Little is also challenging the incoming EID regulations for cattle, scheduled for implementation in 2027. “England intends to use a low-frequency tagging system, while Scotland is pushing ahead with high-frequency tags.
“These two systems are not compatible, and there is no evidence of joined up thinking between the two nations. Just like with Bluetongue, the lack of co-ordination is creating real headaches for farmers and markets alike.”
H&H operate on both sides of the English-Scottish border, so when selling English cattle into Scotland, those animals will have a different EID tag in their ears. Mr Little is questioning whether this will become prohibitive to cross-border trading.
