A COLLEGE is busy trialling a new electronic identification (EID) system.

Bishop Burton College, near Beverley, has lambed 370 ewes and, as part of a trial with Asda and its partner the meat processor Dunbia, has been fitting a cross-section of the newborns with tags that contain a microchip.

The information contained in the chip can be read in a fraction of a second with a special reader.

This new technology looks set to revolutionise the shepherd’s job; putting an end to the usual struggle of trying to make out numbers on traditional tags and then having to cross-reference with records – more often than not kept back at the farmhouse or office.

Phil Richardson, farm manager at the college, says the potential benefits of the electronic identification system are enormous.

"From the simple things like no more lost or torn tags, right through to making genetic and breeding decisions – plus feeding, worming, monitoring fleece quality and all forward-planning for a flock – the possibilities are endless.

"Although there are instant simple identification benefits; what’s really interesting is what our students will learn over a longer period of monitoring the animals with the microchip fitted. Once a database of information is built up the different ways we’ll be able to use it are endless."