In this section:

NLIS tagging sheep and lambs becomes compulsory

Monday 1 December 2008

All exemptions for tagging sheep and lambs under the National Livestock Identification System will finish at the end of 2008.

As of the 1 January 2009 all sheep and lambs must be tagged with an approved NLIS ear tag when being moved to a property with a different Property Identification Code.

This includes animals being sold privately or through a saleyard, animals going for slaughter or being moved for agistment.

Courtney Regan, PIRSA Animal Health Officer explains that the current tagging exemption for sheep born before 2006 will end on 1 January next year. 

In 2009 all sheep and lambs regardless of their age, will need to be tagged with an approved NLIS ear tag when leaving the property.

“Animals bred on the property can be tagged with any colour ear tags, except pink, so long as it is an approved NLIS tag and has their PIC printed on it.

“If sheep were not born on the property and do not already have an NLIS ear tag, producers need to apply a pink post-breeder tag, indicating that the animals were not born on that property.”

If producers have records showing where they purchased untagged sheep from before the introduction of the NLIS-Sheep, they should record the PIC of the previous property on their National Vendor Declaration (NVD).

Producers selling introduced sheep with an NLIS tag from the previous owner must record the PIC printed on that tag on their NVD or movement document when selling those animals.

“If producers require more information about the end of these exemptions or anything relating to the NLIS-Sheep they should contact the PIRSA NLIS helpline on 1800 654 688.”