Expressions of interest from producer groups looking to enhance their capabilities and confidence in the practical use of electronic identification (eID) for improved on-farm decision making are now open.
Funded by the state government and Meat and Livestock Australia, eID Producer Groups will provide a supportive learning environment for sheep and farmed goat producers as mandatory eID for sheep and farmed goats rolls out.
The eID Producer Groups initiative is part of the state government’s eID Advantage Program, which aims to ensure producers are ready to meet the changed requirements of reporting individual animal movements to the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) and moving towards full traceability across the supply chain by January 1, 2027.
Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven strongly encouraged sheep and farmed goat producers to take advantage of this opportunity to enhance their skills as part of the transition to mandatory electronic tagging.
“The eID Producer Groups will provide a supportive learning environment for sheep and farmed goat producers to develop their capabilities by sharing knowledge, accessing expert advice, and developing individual producer plans,” she said.
“Moving from the current visual device and mob-based approach to eID for sheep and farmed goats on a national level is vital to ensuring we have the best possible traceability system in place to protect our $2.96 billion livestock industry in the event of disease outbreak.”
All sheep and farmed goats born on or after January 1, 2025 will need to be identified with an NLIS-accredited eID tag before leaving their property of birth.
From next year, producers who bring eID tagged animals on to their property directly from another property will need to record individual animal transfers on the NLIS database.
Applicants must be producers of sheep and farmed goats and apply as a group.
eID Producer Groups can apply for grant funding up to $20,000 to cover eligible activities including workshops, expert speakers and field study travel costs.
Each eID Producer Group will focus on: developing an individual producer eID plan to identify relevant changes that would provide the most benefit to that producer including improving wool traits, reproduction, weaning weight, sale weight and body condition score; assisting producers with on-farm data collection and troubleshooting technology issues; upskilling producers in importing their data into their chosen software; and collection of adoption and impact data related to the individual producer eID related practice changes.
Integrity Systems Company chief executive officer Jo Quigley said Meat & Livestock Australia and its subsidiary were proud to support initiatives like this which offered practical on-the-ground support as producers and the broader supply chain transitioned from using visual tags to electronic identification devices for sheep and goats.
“Producer Groups provide a valuable opportunity for producers to learn from each other about how to get the most out of eID and the data it will generate, while also meeting the livestock traceability and integrity requirements of the National Livestock Identification System,” she said.
For more information or to submit an online expression of interest, visit pir.sa.gov.au/eid-advantage.
Submissions close at 5pm on February 12, 2025.
Individual producers who would like to apply are encouraged to contact PIRSA at eidsheepandgoat@sa.gov.au.
