New figures from the Rural Payments Agency show the highest ever proportion of cattle movements were reported electronically in April 2011, at 83 per cent. 

The agency said its findings precede a scaling back of the paper alternatives and a switch to a new single-page cattle passport from August 1. The new document will contain all the same information as the current cheque book-style passport and there are no changes to the rules.

Keepers will still need to report all movements within three days and keep their farm records up-to-date. However, the move means the BCMS will no longer be supplying movement cards, and farmers currently reporting movements using paper will need to find alternative methods. For those without broadband access, the around-the-clock self-service telephone line may prove helpful.

RPA findings also showed farmers chose the online method in reporting around 82 per cent of cattle births in April 2011, compared to 75 per cent the year before. The number of births, movements and deaths reported on the self-service phone line also increased from 6,310 in March to 8,448 in April, an increase of 34 per cent.