The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) is informing farmers that DAERA has extended the switchover date for ‘UK’ to ‘XI’ prefix livestock tags, to 30 June 2025. From this date, only ‘XI’ prefix tags can be used.
UFU deputy president Glenn Cuddy said, “From the outset, the UFU urged DAERA to manage this change with caution, stressing that our farmers need sufficient time that would work alongside the farming calendar causing minimal disruption, and that clear communication to notify farmers would be essential. The UFU raised that the transition did not allow livestock farmers sufficient time to use up stocks of ‘UK’ tags and the financial impact this had on keepers who currently hold large quantities of ‘UK’ tags.
“It is encouraging that DAERA listened to the concerns raised by the UFU, that the provisional switchover date of January 2025 was too early and didn’t allow farmers sufficient time to use up stocks of ‘UK’ tags.”
Only ‘XI’ prefix tags can be used on newborn cattle, sheep, and goats from 30 June 2025.
“The New ‘XI’ prefixed livestock tags have been available to purchase from tag suppliers since 24 June 2024 and can be used from that date. However, existing stocks of ‘UK’ tags held by livestock keepers can continue to be used alongside the new ‘XI’ prefix tags until the switchover date,” said Mr Cuddy.
