Future livestock owners and agricultural participants will be able to gain experience with the handheld scanning technology used for the electronic identification (eID) of sheep and farmed goats thanks to a new rebate available to eligible South Australian schools.
eID for sheep and farmed goats is replacing the visual tags and mob-based system to improve the accuracy and efficiency of livestock traceability.
The state government has invested $10.2 million into a range of assistance measures to ensure the supply chain has the essential equipment to meet their reporting and recording obligations under the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS).
Schools, tertiary institutions and colleges that have an agriculture program that includes a focus on livestock management for sheep and goats will be able to apply for a 75 per cent rebate on the purchase of a stick reader.
The equipment will assist students in learning about eID and the reporting requirements as future livestock owners, farm managers, primary producers, leaders and professionals in the livestock industry.
Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven said this would help ensure South Australia’s future livestock industry members were familiar with eID and the use of scanning equipment to support their NLIS reporting and recording obligations.
“We have listened to the feedback from the industry advisory committee and acted promptly to create the dedicated Essential Equipment Rebate for Schools to support their livestock management educational programs,” she said.
“Electronic identification for sheep and farmed goats will ensure we have the best possible traceability system, which is crucial to protecting our $4.9 billion livestock industry in the event of an outbreak of an emergency animal disease such as foot and mouth disease.”
The Sheep and Goat eID Implementation Essential Equipment Rebate for schools will be open until 5pm on Monday, June 30.
All sheep and farmed goats born on or after January 1, 2025 need to be identified with a NLIS accredited eID tag before leaving their property of birth.
Producers who conduct property-to-property movements must record individual movements of sheep and farmed goats identified with eID tags on the NLIS database.
