1. Register your interest

Tell us where you are and whether your cattle can be traced from farm to slaughter. We'll review and get in touch.

2. A short call

We'll ask where the cattle were born and raised, how they're identified, where and when they'll be slaughtered, and what records you have. We'll also check any access or biosecurity requirements so we can plan around your normal operations.

3. Agree the dates

We agree the timing of both visits in advance, at times that suit you. The farm visit and the collection at slaughter need to happen within a few days of each other.

4. At the farm

Our collector takes small samples of water, grass and feed. You provide safe access and identify the five cows taking part.

5. At slaughter

Our collector takes tail hair, meat and skin from those same five cows. We follow the abattoir's hygiene, safety and biosecurity procedures and keep disruption to a minimum.

WHAT WE PROVIDE — Participation is free. We provide the collector, equipment and packaging, and coordinate analysis. Funding is available to help cover your costs. Participating farms can also request confidential results on the mineral content and nutritional characteristics of their sampled meat.

DATA USE AND CONFIDENTIALITY — We use samples and associated farm and animal information to develop cattle-origin testing. Identifiable information stays with the project team and specialist laboratories. Only agreed or anonymised findings are shared; published results will not identify individual farms.