Livestock Identification

​​​​​​​To buy, sell or move livestock between properties or for slaughter, animals must be properly identified. Livestock identification enables animals to be traced back to where they have come from, or to where they may have been moved to. This is essential information when managing disease outbreaks or chemical contamination.

If you have a PIC number (e.g. MABC1234) and are authorised to order NLIS tags, please order from your local rural agent store or any online company.

In this topic

  • About Livestock Identification
    Livestock identification and traceback are essential part of ensuring food safety. Find out what you need to do when buying or selling livestock.
  • Buying & Selling Cattle
    What you need to do if you wish to buy or sell cattle.
  • Buying & Selling Sheep and Goats
    What you must do if you wish to buy or sell sheep or goats,
  • Buying and Selling Pigs
    What you need to do if you wish to buy or sell pigs.
  • Livestock Identification Forms
    Commonly requested forms used in livestock identification
  • Vendor Declarations
    A vendor declaration is now required by legislation to be supplied to the receiver of the stock for all transactions involving cattle, sheep,pigs or goats.
  • Brands, Earmarks & Tattoos
    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Biosecurity (Livestock Traceability) Regulations 2024 and Tasmanian Standards for the Identification of Livestock requires compulsory body tattooing of pigs over 25kg before being sent for sale or slaughter, and the registration of earmarks and body brands for livestock.
  • Hobby Farmers and the NLIS
    A fact sheet for smallholders and hobby farmers on how to comply with the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS).
  • Livestock Traceability - Resources and Information
    The many benefits of effective traceability can be seen in individual business and industry as a whole – livestock can be easily linked to a property and an owner and it allows for the effective surveillance of endemic and exotic diseases. Below are some useful livestock traceability resources and information:
  • General Biosecurity Direction - Livestock Traceability
    Details of the General Biosecurity Direction (livestock traceability) which was issued on 29 September 2022, in force for 5 years.
  • Sheep and goat electronic identification
    An eID is an electronic identification devices. Mandatory eIDs for sheep and goats will be required in Tasmania from 1 January 2025, even if you own only a few backyard animals.
  • Bobby calf electronic identification
    Bobby calf electronic identification (eID)

​In addition to Vendor Declarations, a Health Statement (available from the Animal Health Australia Farm Biosecurity website) may be required by legislation, the purchaser or person in-charge of the destination property. These Health Statements provide specific biosecurity information about the animals being moved for sale, agistment or other reasons.

Contact

Primary Produce Traceability Program

GPO Box 44,
Hobart, TAS, 7001.
Phone: 03 6165 3777

NLIS Forms and Requests

GPO Box 44,
Hobart, TAS, 7001.
Phone: 1300 368 550