image from WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development website
WA Leads Way with Cutting Edge Equipment, Bolstering Biosecurity Measures within Livestock Industry
WA leads the way with installation of this cutting-edge equipment more than a year ahead of the 31 July 2025 deadline for the mandatory national implementation of electronic identification for sheep and goats.
Electronic Identification & Traceability for Sheep & Goats
Under the current national system, sheep and goats are tracked as mobs, from property to property using property identification codes (PICs). The adoption of mandatory electronic identification (eID) for individual sheep and goats is a way of improving traceability practices for more efficient management of disease outbreaks, food safety issues and market access. Electronic ID devices, or ‘eID tags,’ allow for the individual identification of animals, as they contain a microchip, providing a unique identifier for each animal as it’s scanned. From birth to processing, each animal’s journey can be electronically recorded, making it quicker and more accurate to trace the movement of sheep and goats across the market chain. The implementation of eID devices allows for more precise tracking, enabling individual animals to be traced rather than just mobs or consignments.
Read more about this at: DPRID_Electronic ID for Sheep & Goats
In a 23 Febrary 2024 media release, the WA government announced the installation of cutting-edge scanning equipment up and running at the Muchea Livestock Centre, marking a significant step forward in enhancing biosecurity and traceability measures within the livestock industry.
Read the complete media release at: 23Feb2024_WA leads the way in biosecurity & traceability.
Excerpts of this media release are presented below.
Since its inception the Muchea Livestock Centre – which is operated by the Western Australian Meat Industry Authority (WAMIA) – has been a vital hub for the State’s livestock industry, facilitating the smooth movement of more than 7.3 million sheep and goats through its facilities. Thousands of animals are received, processed, and loaded onto trucks within 24 hours, which highlights the importance of the new traceability equipment at the facility. With the introduction of a new national framework aimed at bolstering biosecurity and traceability, WAMIA installed the ‘Allflex’ three-way draft scanning system at the Muchea Livestock Centre. Jackie Jarvis, the Agriculture and Food Minister, commends early installation of this pilot equipment stating, “The introduction of electronic identification for sheep and goats will improve Western Australia’s biosecurity and traceability framework….the proactive approach to install this pilot equipment well ahead of the mandatory implementation date deserves commendation….This foresight demonstrates a commitment to ensuring the livestock industry in Western Australia remains at the forefront of innovation and best practices in biosecurity.”
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