Costly move to sheep and goat eIDs

Preliminary results from a NSW Farmers survey have revealed 80 per cent of NSW sheep and goat producers were currently not using eID tags.

NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said this translates to a huge spending gap in supporting farmers towards electronic identification (eID) for sheep and goats in NSW.

“Farmers are rightly becoming increasingly concerned about the costs associated with implementing eID for sheep and goats, following Minister Saunders’ mandating of the traceability system last year,” Xavier said.

“While the NSW Government’s timeline is public, it remains unknown what financial support will be made available to farmers so they can implement eID as they are now required to do.”

NSW Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders announced in July 2022 that NSW will mandate electronic identification (eID) for sheep and goats as part of a national traceability reform.

NSW Farmers has since advocated on behalf of the state’s sheep and goat producers to ensure implementation will support producers’ understanding of eID requirements, and that sufficient financial support being made available.

The Federal Government has committed $20.1 million for co-investment with states and territories over three years to support the entire supply chain transition to a national EID system. So far, the NSW Government has committed $3.5m in grants for processors and saleyards.

Xavier said moving to eID will be a costly exercise for farmers.

“We asked farmers how much this will cost them and what training, education and support they need, and it’s clear both levels of government will need to open their wallets more.

“The costs of the total rollout are going to be significant even before the cost of tags and readers are taken into account.”

The equipment producers will need to purchase can range from a couple of thousand dollars for a wand reader, to tens of thousands of dollars for eID drafter. Data from eID users reveals there is a significant cost in infrastructure modifications to pens, races and yards to install eID technology.

“There will potentially be less than $10 million from the Commonwealth to support NSW producers, and Commonwealth funds are dependent on a NSW Government co-contribute, so our state will also need to make a substantial investment.”

The new traceability system will fall under the National Livestock Identification System. Sheep and farmed goats born from January 1, 2025, will require an electronic tag before leaving a property, and from January 1, 2027, all farmed sheep and goats will require an eID tag.

“This is a tremendous amount of work that needs to happen in a short time, especially when you consider there are some 24.7 million sheep alone in NSW,” Xavier said.

Xavier said NSW Farmers is determined to secure financial assistance for farmers and the supply chain to invest in technology; to retain tag free pathways, and ensure the system be developed in consultation with producers.

Read a great yarn about mohair from Angora goats here.