New app aims to simplify sheep movements

The development of a new digital app named ‘AIM Services’ means sheep farmers can now notify their farm-to-farm movements from their phone.

Launched by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, use of the app - which is optional - means that flock keepers receiving/purchasing stock no longer need to post the pink dispatch docket that accompanies the sheep to their local DAFM Regional Offices.

Instead, once the app is downloaded, the receiving keeper will be able to submit a digital movement by submitting a photo of either the pink/white dispatch document that accompanied the animals. They will, however, continue to be required to record the movement data and their flock register and to keep copies of the pink and white dispatch documents there for record keeping purposes.

Keepers who do not avail of the app must continue to notify sheep farm-to-farm movements onto their holding to their DAFM RVO in the usual manner. The keeper of the source flock is similarly required to keep the yellow copy of the relevant dispatch document in their flock register for inspection purposes.

Launching the app, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue stated that it is his ultimate goal to provide all livestock keepers with a digital alternative to paper in notifying all required animal movement information directly to DAFM.

Minister McConalogue highlighted the benefit of the app in reducing the administrative burden on farmers: “Posting forms is outdated, expensive and time consuming. The new AIM Services app is a cost effective and efficient way for sheep farmers to instantly report their farm-to-farm movements. The immediacy of the notification will also further enhance our highly regarded animal traceability systems.”

Minister McConalogue encouraged all sheep keepers to engage with this user-friendly app in starting their transition to a digital notification system.

Further development of the app is planned for later in 2023. This will allow sheep (and goat) keepers to complete their 2023 annual census through the app. It is expected that the AIM Services portal will be extended to other sheep movements and to other species throughout 2024 and beyond.

The app is now available for download from the DAFM website by all registered sheep keepers with an active agfood.ie keeper account by typing the following URL https://AIMSPortal.agriculture.gov.ie into a device.

For more information, visit here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/68686-animal-identification-movement-aim/#aim-portal-services