Rural Payments and Services

Applicants to the Beef Efficiency Scheme (BES) are required to use tissue tags to enable genetic analysis to be undertaken.

There has been a delay in issuing the tags and in order to alleviate concerns around this, please see the advice below:

• some applicants will have already sold a number of their calves born in 2016 and we wish to assure them that there will be no penalties for farmers who have sold animals
• if applicants would normally sell at this time of the year they should not hold off and should continue with their normal practices. Data from the British Cattle Movement Service will be used to establish which calves have already been sold in order to make the genotyping selection from the animals left on a holding. As there can be a delay in receiving details of sales from BCMS data we will also make a selection of alternative animals that can be used if any of the animals in a selection have been sold
• if a genotyping selection for a business can’t be made because a producer has sold the majority of their animals, additional animals will be selected next (2017) year. There will be no penalty for this
• due to the delay in issuing tissue tags, the return period for tags will be extended until June 2017. This flexibility will allow producers to carry out tissue tagging at a time which suits their business and removes the need to carry out any additional handling as many businesses will have housed their animals for the winter and do not wish to re-handle calves at this time
• customers requiring any further advice should contact the helpline on 0300 300 2222
• the issue date for tissue tags will be known once the genotyping selection has been made and will be shared direct with applicants and publicised more widely