Electronic identification (EID) was investigated in the early 1980s to accurately monitor and track farm livestock movements from one holding to another. In the UK, EID became a mandatory requirement for sheep identification in 2010. However, the potential for using EID technology to improve animal performance is scarcely exploited by small ruminant farmers in more extensive conditions. Dr Claire Morgan-Davies, Livestock Systems Scientist, and Harriet Wishart, part-time PhD candidate and Sheep Research Technician, at the Hill & Mountain Research Centre, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) presents findings from studies exploring the possibilities of applying EID technology in small ruminant farming systems, particularly in extensive conditions.