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NLIS audit results promising

Thursday, 27 August 2009

A majority of SA sheep producers are complying with the requirements of the National Livestock Identification System-Sheep and Goats when trading their sheep, PIRSA’s first system audit has found.

The most common cause of non-compliance was non-vendor bred sheep being tagged with the wrong colour tag – they must be tagged with pink post-breeder tags.

Mr Courtney Regan, PIRSA Biosecurity’s Animal Health Officer NLIS explains the first comprehensive audit of the NLIS-Sheep and Goats took place at sheep selling centres and export abattoirs.

“National Vendor Declarations (NVDs) and sheep from over 170 producers were inspected with a focus on the accuracy of the NVDs and information supplied about non-vendor bred lines.

“The results were very promising.  Most producers have made a real effort to comply with the system and the majority of paper work was done really well and those that did not list PICs had re-tagged their sheep.”

Mr Regan said the majority of non-compliances were due to the wrong colour tags being used to re-tag introduced sheep.

“Many producers had opted not to list PICs on the NVD but instead had re-tagged their sheep and lambs. Unfortunately some had used the wrong colour ear tags,” he said.

“If producers are opting to re-tag introduced sheep they need to use a pink post breeder tag, which distinguishes those animals from any vendor bred animals.”

Several producers had listed associated PICs on their NVD but had not listed all the PICs present in that consignment.

“It’s important that all the associated PICs present in a consignment are listed on the NVD, one PIC missing would slow down the tracing of animals in the event of an emergency.”

Approximately 4% of audited producers were found to be completely non-compliant with the NLIS-Sheep and Goats. These producers had not either listed the previous owners’ PICs or re-tagged the animals with a pink post breeder tag.

The instances of producers not complying with the NLIS was evenly spread geographically, with non-compliant lots being found to have originated from the South East, Adelaide Plains, Adelaide Hills and the Murray Mallee regions.
 

PIRSA Biosecurity will continue to audit sheep selling centres and abattoirs for compliance with the NLIS-Sheep and Goats. Producers found to be non-compliant will continue to be contacted by PIRSA.

Any producers who have questions regarding the NLIS-Sheep and Goats are encouraged to contact the NLIS Helpline on 1800 654 688.