The reality of mandatory electronic identification (eID) tags comes into being in January of next year.

New South Wales, and other states, are currently transitioning to mandatory individual electronic identification for sheep and goats.

Using eID will reduce the time required to manage an emergency animal disease or food safety incident. This allows authorities to respond to and recover from an outbreak, such as foot and mouth disease and be able to easily trace stock.

While the move has positives for biosecurity, the start up costs have been an issue for many farmers, who have appealed to government for assistance.

On May 1st, NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty announced a new eID tag discount program for NSW producers, with a 76 cent-per-tag discount available for eligible sheep and goat eID tags purchased from 1 November 2024 until 31 October 2025, or until funding is exhausted

NSW Farmers has thanked the state government for listening to industry concerns around mandated traceability reforms following the announcement of a new scheme to provide discounted eID tags to sheep and goat farmers in NSW.

Fifth generation farmer, Nick Deshon from 'Llanillo', a cropping and grazing property between Lightning Ridge and Cumborah runs 5000 Merino sheep and 6000 -7000 rangeland goats and is gearing up for the introduction of mandatory tagging.

Mr Deshon's rangeland goats don't need the new tags as they go direct from Llanillo to the abattoir in Bourke.

"With the sheep, it's just something we will have to do. We have started lambing now and will be ordering the compatible tags to use at lamb marking. I just hope the government steps up and help us out," Mr Deshon said.

Mr Deshon said the new tagging system was not foolproof.

"The tags get knocked off in yards or lost, whereas a brand or an ear mark is visual and can't disappear but I can see the reasons for biosecurity. We had some sheep on agistment from Queensland and they were easy to trace."

IMAGE: Deshon Goat Depot

NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said the discount program had come as a positive step forward for producers in the transition to electronic identification for sheep and goats. 

“It is the governments who mandated this traceability system, and so they must have plans to properly support producers with transitioning to the required systems,” Mr Martin said. 

“We have made it very clear that we will only continue to support these traceability reforms if tag costs are reduced to economically viable levels, and we are pleased to hear the state government has stepped up to the plate and listened to our policies on this. 

“While there is further detail in this scheme we need to unpack and understand, there is no doubt that today’s announcement is a step forward in support for sheep and goat producers in NSW. 

"However, there is a still a long road ahead for traceability reform, and the state and federal governments must continue to ensure there is sufficient and suitable funding for all producers in NSW, all the way through this transition, if this scheme is to truly be successful and harmonized.”

With just eight months until eID becomes mandatory for sheep and goats in NSW, Mr Martin urged both the state and federal governments to continue to explore all available options to ensure that national traceability can be achieved without excessive imposts and costs for sheep and goat producers.

"They just don’t need to rush things," Mr Deshon said. "They have to get it right. As for me, I'll stick with the goats that don't need tagging and leave the sheep to my son."