Welcome to Goats

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS – GOATS

Identification

All goats must be identified individually with a pair of approved ear tags bearing the same number, one in each ear, issued in accordance with the requirements of the National Goat Identification System (NGIS).

Movement Documentation

All consignments of goats being moved must be accompanied by a completed dispatch document.  Only goats from herds/holdings that are not under restriction can be moved to shows.

AIM Notification

The movement of goats to and from an Agricultural Show within the State must be recorded on AIM.  This is done using a copy of the keeper’s goat dispatch document as follows:

1. The owner/keeper presents the signed and completed dispatch document to the show secretary who checks that it is completed in full.
2. The show secretary fills in the MART section of the dispatch document with (i) the show number, (ii) the date of the move back to the source holding, (iii) stamps it with the show stamp and (iv) signs it.
3. The show secretary then forwards the completed yellow section of the dispatch document to the local RVO within 7 days of the show movement.
4. The show secretary keeps the white copy for their records.
5. The source/destination keeper keeps the bottom blue copy to enter it into their herd register.

Ultimate responsibility for fulfilling this requirement lies with the Show Secretary. 

Herd Register

All movements of goats to and from shows must be recorded in the keeper’s goat herd register.

EU TB Surveillance Programme

Goats are not eligible for sale into Northern Ireland or any other EU member state unless the herd is authorised for the Caprine EU TB Surveillance Programme. Herd owners must bring a valid (issued within the previous 12 months of the event) DAFM Caprine EU TB Surveillance Programme authorisation letter to the show/sale as proof of authorisation.

Attendance of goats from monitored herds at shows and sales in 2025.

Shows between 1^st May and 31^st October.

Goats from Scrapie Monitored Herds will be permitted to attend Agricultural Shows taking place between 1^st May and 31^st October, without additional controls or separation from other categories of goats.

Shows outside of the 1^st May and 31^st October Period

For shows taking place before 1^st May or after 31^st October, goats from Scrapie Monitored or Probationary herds must be separated from other goats as set down below.

1.        There must be complete separation of Scrapie Monitored/Probationary goats from other categories of goats at the show. Ideally, this would mean a separate entrance and exit for each group, separate loading and unloading areas, separate penning areas for each of the two groups and separate sale rings for each of the two groups.

2.        In locations where all of the above may not be possible, the minimum requirement would be for separation of loading and unloading areas and of penning areas also.  A goat free alleyway should separate the two penning areas by at least 12 feet wide.  If one show ring only is available, the goats from the Scrapie monitored herds must be shown first.

Sales between 1^st May and 31^st October

Goats from Scrapie Monitored Herds will be permitted to attend sales taking place between 1^st May and 31^st October, without additional controls or separation from other categories of goats.

Sales outside of the 1^st May and 31^st October Period

For sales taking place before 1^st May or after 31^st October, goats from Scrapie Monitored/Probationary Herds must be separated from other goats as set down below.

1. There must be complete separation of the two categories of goats at the sale (monitored animals including probationary monitored animals and non-monitored animals).  Ideally, this would mean a separate entrance and exit for each group, separate loading and unloading areas, separate penning areas for each of the three groups and separate sale rings for each of the three groups.
2. In locations where, all of the above may not be possible, the minimum requirement would be for separation of loading and unloading areas and also of penning areas.  A goat free alleyway should separate the two penning areas by at least 12 feet wide.
3. If only one sale ring is available, the procedures set out in the following two options must be adhered to.

a.    The goats from the Scrapie monitored herds must be offered for sale first, followed by non-monitored animals or

b.    The ring can be divided by gates into two sections to ensure that each of the two categories of animals is confined to a unique part of the sales ring

For enquiries regarding the NGIS, please contact the Sheep and Goat Identification and Movement Section, AIM Division on 01 5058723.