THE relatively simple task of moving sheep from Western Australia into South Australia may just have gotten a little more complicated, with Biosecurity SA warning that in some cases sheep bought from WA will need to be retagged with pink post-breeder tags before they can be moved to other locations.
Around 355,000 sheep have been moved into South Australia in the past six months as restockers due to drought conditions in WA. The majority of arrivals have been either breeding ewes or store lambs for finishing.
Biosecurity SA’s Senior Animal Health Officer – NLIS, Mr Courtney Regan, estimates about 40% of these WA sheep are incorrectly identified with non-accredited ear tags, without an NLIS logo.
“The NLIS logo on ear tags is a necessary part of the NLIS for sheep and goats as it confirms the tag is legitimate and has been through rigorous retention trials and meets the NLIS visual tag standard,” Mr Regan said. “Producers can then have a degree of confidence that the tag will reliably meet their needs.
“WA has continued to allow old stocks of tags held on-farm to be used as NLIS devices, and at least one tag manufacturer until recently was producing tags for NLIS purposes that were not accredited – therefore did not carry the NLIS logo.”
Mr Regan said that in cases where the NLIS logo was missing, producers must retag those animals with a pink ‘post breeder’ ear tag before selling or moving the animals from properties where they were currently pastured.
“Producers purchasing WA sheep may also have noticed that instead of a Property Identification Code being shown on the NLIS ear tag, a three letter brand is displayed,” Mr Regan said. “Under NLIS rules, a WA brand is allowed to be printed on sheep tags and is seen as the equivalent of a PIC. If tags have a WA brand and an NLIS logo no retagging of animals is required.”
Since 1 July 2010 it has been mandatory for all movements of sheep and goats to be recorded on the NLIS database as a Mob Based Movement. When sheep are purchased through private treaty (even if a livestock agent is involved) it is the purchaser’s responsibility to ensure a Mob Based Movement is recorded on the NLIS database.
SA producers seeking further information about NLIS requirements should contact the Biosecurity SA Helpline on 1800 654 688 or go to pir.sa.gov.au and select the Quick Link to ‘NLIS sheep and goats’.
