The sheep electronic identification (EID) system introduced in Victoria in 2017 is on track to meet the requirements of the National Livestock Traceability Performance Standards, a sheep producers advocacy group says.
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But Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) said “the sheep industry would benefit from independently testing the system to determine its performance compared with the mob-based system.”
SPA put forward its views after taking part in a recent EID assessment tour that visited The Australian Lamb Company abattoir at Colac, a farm at Shelford north of Inverleigh that uses EID for on-farm management and the Ballarat saleyards.
The tour group included representatives of SPA, WoolProducers Australia, state farming organisations and a state traceability representative. The tour looked at the system’s elements that might need more work if the system was to be successfully rolled out nationally.
SPA acting chief executive Stephen Crisp said independent analysis of the system would ensure the benefits flagged before the Victorian EID roll-out were actually delivered.
“The report outlines that jurisdictional traceability staff who are responsible for the enforcement and compliance of NLIS in each state would be the appropriate group to determine the methodology needed to evaluate the system,” Mr Crisp said.
The group also recommended the following elements be addressed if a national roll-out of EID was ever to be considered:
- Price of tags and opportunities for a price reduction be investigated via a national tag tender or similar scheme and/or creation of a national online tag ordering service
- Carcase feedback from abattoirs and ownership of data collected by processors be reviewed
- Assessment of infrastructure requirements and resource capability of abattoirs, saleyards and jurisdictions to determine the funding needed to meet the requirements of an EID system
- Adequate extension prior to and during implementation provided to all sectors but particularly to producers and agents, including promoting the benefits of an EID system such as on-farm management and rapid traceback in emergency situations
Mr Crisp said the recommendations would be referred to the SAFEMEAT Sheep Traceability Working Group, which was established to implement improvements to the Sheep NLIS recommended following the Sheepcatcher II traceability exercise in mid-2016.
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