National Livestock ID Scheme

It is now mandatory in Western Australia for both cattle and sheep to be identified with National Livestock Identification Scheme (NLIS) devices when sold through saleyards. These devices provide for lifetime identification of stock by the use of ear tags. For further information on NLIS contact the MLA – (www.mla.com.au) or the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (www.agric.wa.gov.au). The Western Australian Meat Industry Authority fully supports the NLIS program.

Legislation requires that all WA saleyards only sell stock that have been identified with a NLIS tag and that the details of the vendor and buyer are recorded. In the case of cattle this is done by electronic means on an individual animal basis with sheep being identified on a property basis.

The Western Australian Meat Industry Authority represents saleyards and processors on the State Committees responsible for the implementation of NLIS into Western Australia for both cattle and sheep.

The Midland Saleyards is fully NLIS complaint and recognized as a leader in this field in Western Australia. It also through Livestock Logistics WA that NLIS services are provided to other regional cattle saleyards, covering in excess of 95% of the cattle sold in Western Australian Saleyards.

For further information contact the Western Australian Meat Industry Authority at wamia@wamia.wa.gov.au