Strict rules for cows' passports

If you or I wanted a passport we could apply at anytime but did you know that if you're a farmer and want to get one for a cow you only have a very small window of time?

Cows have to register with the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) within 27 days of being born.

The regulations came in after BSE.

Working Lunch viewers The Royles have been farming at Dunham Massey in Cheshire for over 30 years.

Sue Royle looks after the paperwork and has a thorough procedure with calendars and files to make sure that nothing slips through the net.

But in March she was two days late in getting the paperwork for new calf Jill to the BCMS.

Instead of receiving a passport which would allow Jill to be moved, sold or visit a show she received a Notice of Refusal, which means the animal cannot leave her property.

Cost

When the time would come for Jill to be sold she would be worth between �800 and �1,000.

Now she is worth nothing.

As she is female she will be kept with the dairy herd on the farm but had she been male she would have had to be put down.

Dishonesty

Sue apologised to the BCMS and offered to pay a fine but was refused.

She believes that she's not the only one to have found herself in this situation and thinks that the system is open to fraud - and as a result, danger.

She says: "It alters the honesty of the system, and the system would mean if she went in the beef chain, she would be out of date because only beef under 30 months of age goes in the food chain.

"So if I lie, the whole system becomes flawed. "

Exceptions

In a statement to Working Lunch, the BCMS said that in exceptional circumstances it does make allowances.

"Exceptional circumstances include postal strikes, medical emergencies, a breakdown of a business or martial partnership and bereavement.

"We cannot accept that forgetfulness or being too busy with other routine tasks are grounds for exceptional treatment."

Advice

The National Farmers' Union has issued Working Lunch with some tips for farmers to make sure they don't end up in a similar situation to Sue and Jill.

It suggests that farmers should do all their paperwork on a three week rotation.

It recommends keeping a copy of everything that's posted and sending everything via registered post.

Cows can also be registered online.

Additionally, if you haven't heard anything after posting your application, you can ring up and register over the phone.