Cattle Inspections and Passport Reconciliation
The Scottish Government carries out cattle identification inspections to make sure cattle keepers are听complying with听animal identification and traceability.听The main purpose of the inspection is to check听keepers are compliant with听the cattle keeper requirements听which are mandatory requirement of cross compliance and ensure traceability in case听there is a serious disease outbreak.听
It is evitable that all cattle keepers will incur an inspection at some point. Every year RPID must carry out inspections on:听
- 3%听of holdings with cattle听
- 5%听of Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme claimants听
- 5%听of Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme claimed animals.听
Now is the time听of year听when cattle inspections are carried out on farm, so it is advised that you ensure you are ready for听an听inspection this winter by carrying out a passport reconciliation and checking all cattle on farm are correctly听identified.听If you selected for an inspection this winter, you听will听have limited time to prepare after receiving the inspector鈥檚 call.听听
How to carry out a听passport听reconciliation听
Step 1听-听Download a list of cattle recorded on the holding from the听or telephone听ScotEID听on 01466 794323.听
Step 2听-听Use the 鈥楥urrent Cattle鈥� tab to find the 鈥楥attle on Holding鈥� list to cross check against the passports you have on farm. Tick off the animals for which you have a passport.听
Step 3听-听Make a note of any passports you have where there听isn鈥檛听an animal on the list.听Also听identify听cattle with a missing or incorrect passport.听
- Return any passports for cattle no longer on holding to听ScotEID.听听
- Request replacement passports from听ScotEID听for registered cattle on holding, but without passport. A 拢20 fee will be charged for this.听
- For cattle under 27 days not yet registered, birth notify the calf via听ScotEID听with relevant birth details.听
- For animals over 27 days not yet registered, contact听ScotEID听to discuss next steps.听
- For any passports听containing听incorrect information e.g. sex, score out the incorrect information and write on correct听information before returning to听ScotEID. A free replacement will be issued.听
Step 4听鈥� Carry out a听physical ear tag check of all the cattle on farm.听Check that both ear tags match (check front and back of each tag).听
Step 5听-听Keep a note of the animals which require a replacement tag and order听replacements听ASAP.听
What happens during a cattle inspection听
The inspector confirms whether the key requirements of cattle identification and traceability legislation have been听complied with.听As a reminder here are the key requirements of cattle keepers.听
- You are registered with Animal and Plant Health Association听(APHA)听as the keeper of cattle.听
- You have tagged your cattle听in accordance with听current legislation.听
- You have registered your cattle with听ScotEID听and notified all births,听movements听and deaths on the听ScotMoves+/ScotMoves听systems.听
- You have听retained听the听appropriate passports.听
- You keep听records of all cattle births, movements (on and off)听and deaths.听听
What inspectors will look for听
The inspection will consist of two parts which includes听both听an administrative听and physical assessment.听The inspector will check your cattle records and passports against the information supplied to the听ScotEID,听ScotMoves+/ScotMoves听systems, verifying the information in your records plus other supporting documents such as听purchase听and sales invoices.听The physical assessment of cattle听will involve the听inspector physically inspecting听your animals to verify the accuracy of your records and check the听eartags听to ensure the cattle have been tagged correctly.听听
It is important to note that inspectors will also check if any new or replacement tags have been ordered after the inspection has been announced.听听
Top听tips听
- Reduce likelihood of risk-based inspection by notifying听ScotEID听of听births, deaths and movements听within the legislative听timeframes听and recording these in the holding register.听
- Carry out a passport reconciliation annually.听
- Ensure you sign and sticker all passports once received on farm, remembering to sign and date also when moving off farm.听
- File male and female passports in separate files, ideally in numerical order of last four digits for ease of finding.听听
- Make use of livestock management software, where possible to听maintain听records that link to听ScotEID听and allow for management of medicine records.听
Useful听links听
- 听
- 听
- 听
- 听
Lorraine Logan, Area Manager听and Senior Consultant, Lorraine.Logan@sac.co.uk
Posted by SAC Consulting on 16/01/2026
