A farm in Fife has started culling 271 cattle after a government inspection found the animals lacked proper identification.
The regulatory breach means the livestock cannot legally enter the food chain, forcing the owners into a large-scale disposal operation.
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The tracking failure occurred at Falkland Estate, where operators are required to register all births and movements via the national ScotEID database.
This culling is one of the largest single regulatory slaughter incidents recorded in Scotland, according to the BBC.
Financial Impact and Compensation
The farm is unlikely to receive government compensation for the destroyed livestock, representing a direct asset loss estimated at up to £500,000.
The business also faces liability for slaughtering costs and potential forfeiture of routine Scottish government farm support payments.
Official action began during a routine livestock tracking audit. A Scottish government spokesperson said non-compliance was found during a cattle identification and traceability inspection.
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The spokesperson emphasized that identification and traceability regulations are vital for disease prevention, control, eradication, and public health protection.
Inspectors found comprehensive tracking gaps across a significant portion of the herd.
The 271 animals were unidentifiable and untraceable, meaning they cannot enter the food chain and are under permanent movement restriction.
Because movement restrictions prevent commercial sale or relocation, the farm management had no legal alternative. The business took the difficult decision to slaughter the animals.
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Government personnel will remain involved to verify the slaughter and ensure compliance during the disposal process.
