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390 Australian Veterinary Journal Volume 83, No 7, July 2005

On 1 July 2005, all owners of cattle or other livestockspecies must comply with the new Stock IdentificationRegulation 2005 that underpins the National Livestock

Identification System (NLIS).Full details of the laws relating to NLIS are available on the

DPI&F web site at: www.dpi.qld.gov.au/NLIS. In summary,this legislation covers thefollowing mandatoryrequirements.

All owners with one or morehead of cattle, sheep, pigs, deer,goats, camelids (camels, llama,alpaca), buffalo or 100 or morepoultry must register theirproperties with the DPI&F and beissued with a PropertyIdentification Code (PIC). Newowners of any livestock property(including hobby farms) have 14days to register their property withthe DPI&F. Any person planningto purchase an animal at asaleyards or through private salenegotiations is strongly advised toobtain a PIC prior to the sale. Awaybill (or NVD/waybill) islegally required to accompanytravelling stock.

All cattle are to be fitted withan approved NLIS-device (ear tagor bolus) prior to being moved offany premise (unless phase-inarrangements apply). Thisincludes movements of all cattleshifted to another propertybecause of private sale, cattle sentto agistment, cattle moved to public saleyards or sent toslaughter.

All movements of cattle must be recorded on the nationalNLIS database within 48 hours of the cattle arriving at theirdestination. However the reading of NLIS devices andnotification of the database may occur at any point during theirjourney, and is compulsory for cattle sold through saleyards.The data transferred includes the NLIS identification numberfor each animal moved, the PICs of the premises where cattle aremoved ‘from’ and ‘to’, and the date the animals arrived (unlessphase-in arrangements apply).

It is important for all cattle owners to understand that oncean animal is tagged, that tag stays with it for life (unless damagedor falls out). Do not put another NLIS device on an animal

already tagged.About 200 fee-for-service providers will be trained and it is

anticipated that most will be operational for provision of NLIS-device reading and data transfer services to those who do nothave NLIS reading equipment or experience with data transfer.

All saleyards will need to be NLIS compliant to operate after1 July. Saleyards have a responsibilityto notify the NLIS database of thedestination PIC within 48 hours ofcattle leaving the yards. From apractical view-point, it is not advisablefor animals to leave the saleyards unlesstheir destination PIC is known.

All cattle sold through saleyards willcontinue to require a transaction tailtag or ear tag during the initial stages ofNLIS implementation. Therequirement for tail tags will beremoved for individual saleyards assoon as the use of NLIS devices anddata transfer has been demonstrated tobe working successfully.

NLIS is a major change for the beefindustry and when NLIS starts on 1July there will undoubtedly be someproblems as producers, saleyards andslaughter houses work to get the systemoperating smoothly.

DPI&F knows that there will besome teething problems, but stockinspectors will be working closely withall sectors of the industry to assistthrough education and extensionactivities.

DPI&F stock inspectors andQueensland Police Service stock squad

officers will enforce the penalty provisions within the newlegislation. However a sensible approach will be taken duringthe initial implementation period.

It is recognised that there may be exceptional circumstanceswhere tags are not available and there is a genuine need to movecattle on or after 1 July. While there is no general provision forexemptions under the legislation, any producer who is facedwith this situation is advised to contact their local inspector as amatter of priority.

More detailed information about NLIS is available on theDPI&F web site at: www.dpi.qld.gov.au/NLIS or by callingthe DPI&F Call Centre on 13 25 23. A booklet called “AGuide to NLIS (Cattle) in Queensland” is available from allDPI&F and QGAP offices.

Taking stock of ournation’s livestock

- new laws for hobby farmers and cattle producersBy Ron Glanville General Manager DPI&F Animal Biosecurity

Photo: Mark Thornley