LIVESTOCK auctioneers are urging farmers to make sure their sheep have electronic tags when they bring them to market.

Chairman of the Livestock Auctioneers Association Alastair Sneddon said: "Auctioneers are bearing a considerable financial burden to implement the new EID rules with minimum impact on farmers so any manual reading of ear tags will only increase that burden.

"We strongly urge farmers to make every effort to ensure sheep are electronically tagged.

"However, if during this transition period sheep are presented to markets with manual ear tags then auctioneers will endeavour to help farmers see those animals sold."

Electronic sheep tagging became compulsory on January 1, 2010 under new EU-wide regulations.