ID cards for sheep

I believe an electronic tagging scheme for sheep (your report, 25 September) is neither practical nor necessary and will place a real burden on Scottish sheep farmers.

The cost and time involved in fitting tags and scanning the sheep will be prohibitive and have a dire impact on Scottish sheep farming.

Apart from the cost and time involved, how handy is it going to be for farmers? Imagine trying to scan a wet, filthy ewe, miles from anywhere, in a gale, and then find the machine isn't working?

There must be a more sensible option.

I am yet to be convinced that the existing "batch system" for monitoring sheep movements needs to be radically altered and am keen to see the issues re-examined, with other options being considered, before Scottish farmers have the scheme foisted upon them.

STRUAN STEVENSON MEP

The European Parliament

Rue Wiertz, Brussels