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The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) applies to goats and producers are urged to come to terms with what this means for them.
New information sheets have just been developed that clearly explain what is required of goat producers and harvesters across Australia.
Margaret Piccoli, the Goat Industry Council of Australia’s representative to the National NLIS (Sheep and Goats) Committee, applauded the release of new information sheets saying: “Whether you are in the business of harvesting rangeland goats or run Boer, dairy or fibre goats, or even if you only have a small number of goats, NLIS applies to you. Just what your obligations are does vary according to your circumstances and this is clearly defined nationally and on a state by state basis in these new information sheets.”
Ms Piccoli went on to say that in essence, producers are required to know where the goats under their management have come from and where they are going.
This means:
- All managed goats must be identified with an NLIS ear tag before leaving their property regardless of whether they are destined for a saleyard, abattoir, sale over-the-hooks (OTH) or another property with a different Property Identification Code (PIC).
- All transported goats, not just managed goats but also rangeland or feral goats, must be accompanied by accurate and fully completed movement documents, usually a National Vendor Declaration (NVD).
There are some state-based exemptions or additional requirements for dairy goats, show goats and unmanaged goats (rangeland or feral) and these are spelt out on the new information sheets.
Ms Piccoli said that the goat industry should be proud of the fact that it has evolved to become a mainstream industry and that as such, product integrity systems such as NLIS and the LPA NVD, are just as important to the goat industry as they are to other major livestock industries such as the cattle and sheep industries.
Commenting on the reasons for NLIS, Ms Piccoli said that: “There are two clear reasons for NLIS – disease management and traceability.”
Using the goat meat export industry as an example, Ms Piccoli went on to say that: “Doing business without a system of traceability is just too risky for an industry that exports over 90% of its product.”
www.mla.com.au/NLISforGoats
IF IN DOUBT – FIND OUT
.mla.com.au/NLISforGoats
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