THIS week’s decision to reject mandatory electronic identification tagging for sheep and goats has been welcomed by advocacy groups across Australia.
The Agriculture Ministers’ Forum decided this week that State and Territory governments will make necessary improvements to the National Livestock identification Scheme (NLIS) for sheep and goats by building on the systems already in place. Each jurisdiction will aim for improved traceability, either by enhancing the current mob-based system or by introducing electronic identification ear tags.
“National enhancement of the current mob-based system is by far the most sensible outcome and I’m very pleased with this result,” forum chair Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce said.
“A key consideration for any option is the cost of meeting traceability benchmarks.
“The cost of electronic tags ranges between 80 cents and $1.60 per animal. These are costs that would need to be met by each State and the industry itself – forcing electronic identification systems onto the entire industry simply can’t be justified in the current environment.”
NSW Farmers, along with many other farm lobby groups, pushed for enhancing the current mob based system as the most economical and practical measure to improve livestock traceability.
“This decision is an excellent outcome for our members who have clearly and consistently communicated their support for retaining and improving the existing mob based system,” NSW Farmers president Fiona Simson said.
"It’s already in place and can do the job without additional cost to sheep and goat producers."
WAFarmers also applauded the decision. “The existing system of identification and traceability is well accepted and the introduction of mandatory electronic identification is not commercially viable,” WAFarmers Meat Section president Jeff Murray said. Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) Livestock president Ian Feldtmann said the decision was “a commonsense approach” to the issue, given the high cost of identifying sheep with electronic tags, scanners and software.
“The federal government’s position reflects the VFF’s own policy – that electronic identification of sheep must remain voluntary,” Mr Feldtmann said.
“The VFF has received numerous calls and emails from members vigorously opposed to mandatory electronic identification of sheep. Most argue the cost is too high and it delivers little value.”
Two other options considered by the Agriculture Ministers’ Forum were based on the introduction of electronic identification systems. All options were analysed as part of a Regulation Impact Statement prepared by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural Research Economics and Science (ABARES), which received 108 public submissions on the issue.
