The cost burden on Pembrokeshire’s sheep industry from electronic identification (EID) could force some local farmers to give up production.

Figures published this week suggest electronically tagging a flock of 1,000 sheep would cost at least £1,714, equivalent to 18.6% of a typical hill farm annual income of £9,207.

For local producers like Robert Vaughan, who runs a flock of 1,000 pedigree Lleyn and Welsh Mountain ewes in the Gwaun Valley, the figures don’t add up.

Mr Vaughan says there is not enough profit in the system to absorb this cost and fears about the practicalities of administering it.

“This is another layer of unnecessary red tape which is strangling the industry,” says Robert, who runs three farms in the Gwaun Valley — Penlan Uchaf, Llanerch and Penrhiw.

He says the UK sheep industry already has an individual ID system which is effective.

Not only are the cost implications causing major concern — farmers will have to tag sheep with microchips and purchase expensive readers — a significant proportion of farmers will require IT training in order to be able to comply with the requirements of this regulation. EID was originally due to come into force from January 1st this year, but it now looks certain to be implemented in January 2010. The EU Commission had sought to delay its introduction, concluding that the technology was not yet robust enough and the economic cost to the sheep sector was too great.

Pembrokeshire farmers are being urged to contact their local AM and MP with their concerns to enable feedback to be given at various levels throughout the political structure.