Traceability:
Step One
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Traceability is one of the vital elements in the marketing of high quality Scotch beef from Scotland's
renowned suckler herds.
The process of establishing the provenance of stock begins immediately after calving when new-born calves are
registered with the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS).
All registered animals are allocated a unique ear tag number and an individual Passport which are key elements
in establishing traceability and provenance.
The unique ear tags and identification numbers above - the start of the traceability chain from farm to plate.
To comply with legislation all cattle must be double tagged.
All heifer and bull calves which are born in Scotland must be registered by breeders.
In some cases breeders and finishers will also apply additional 'jumbo tags' which are linked to that
individual farm's administration schemes.
However it is the registered ear tag and passport which forms the foundation of the rigorous traceability
schemes being practised by Scotland's livestock producers.
