Buying, Selling and Moving Livestock

​​​Livestock mo​​vements

A National Vendor Declaration (NVD) or other approved movement document must be completed at each stage of the livestock movement. ​

The receiver must record the movement details on NLIS or PigPass within two days, unless the livestock were moved thr​ough a saleyard. The receiver must also keep records for five years in the case of sheep and goats, seven years for cattle and three years for pigs.

Under the Regulations, ‘transport’ means any movement of identifiable stock. This includes livestock that are moved on foot from one PIC to another.​

Transp​o​rt drivers

A transport driver moving identifiable livestock must:

  • be in possession of a movement document for the identifiable livestock​

  • complete information required on the movement document

  • give a copy of the movement document to the receiver as soon as practicable after the identifiable livestock arrive at the receiving premises

  • give movement information to the owner/proprietor​ as soon as practicable after the identifiable livestock arrive at the receiving premises if the receiver is not the owner/proprietor.

The owner must:

  • keep a record of the movement information provided by the driver as follows: 7 years for cattle, 5 years for sheep or goats, and 3 years for pigs.

  • make sure the movement information is recorded in NLIS or PigPass, unless the movement was from a saleyard.

 LTR Fact Sheet Livestock Transporters

Livesto​​ck agents

A person must:

  • not supply identifiable livestock to a livestock agent without a movement document

  • provide the PIC for the premises where the identifiable livestock are being transported to the agent. If the identifiable livestock are being supplied to another livestock agent, their PIC, name and business address must be provided. 

The livestock agent:

  • ​must not supply the identifiable livestock to another person unless they are in possession of the movement document

  • who supplies identifiable livestock to a person at a saleyard must provide a copy of the movement document and the PIC of the saleyard

  • ​supplied with or who supplies identifiable livestock to a person must keep a record for two years if the livestock are sheep, goats or cattle or three years if they are pigs of:

    • ​​​the movement information

    • ​​post sale information for the identifiable livestock

    • ​the PIC or address of the saleyard

  • ​supplied with or who supplies identifiable livestock to a person must provide the operator of the saleyard with the movement and post sale information by the close of business each day on which the saleyard is open for business

  • must ensure that the movement information is provided to the NLIS or PigPass within two days of the identifiable livestock arriving at the receiving premises. This information includes the:

    • ​transaction information

    • ​agent’s name and business address

    • ​PIC of the premises where the livestock is being held

  • can form an agreement with the receiver of the identifiable livestock as to who will provide the information to the NLIS or PigPass

  • supplied with identifiable livestock must record each day the following information for a period of two years:

    • ​identification particulars

    • ​number of livestock supplied

    • ​​the PIC they are being held if they are still in their possession

    • ​​the PIC of the premises where they have moved if they are no longer in their possession

  • ​​​​in addition to NLIS and PigPass requirements, who is supplied with or supplies to a person identifiable livestock must keep a daily record of the following information and keep that record for 2 years for sheep, goats and cattle and 3 years for pigs:

    • ​identification particulars of the identifiable livestock

    • ​number of identifiable livestock that were supplied

    • ​​PIC they came from, were held and were moved to.

 LTR Fact Sheet Livestock Agents 

Saleya​rds

The operator of a saleyard must:

  • be in possession of the movement document before presenting the identifiable livestock for sale at a public auction

  • provide a copy of the movement document to a person before the sold identifiable livestock leave the saleyard

  • keep a record of the movement information for any identifiable livestock that are presented for sale at the saleyard for two years after that date

  • ensure that the following information is provided to the NLIS or PigPass by close of business the day after the identifiable livestock are sold or if sold for slaughter the day they are sold:

    • the transaction information for the sold or unsold identifiable livestock

    • the name, business address and PIC of the livestock agent if the livestock were in the possession of a livestock agent before arriving or at the saleyard

    • the PIC of the premises if the identifiable livestock are to be transported from the saleyard to premises 

    • a copy of any NLIS or PigPass movement document created in relation to the transaction

  • ​ensure that the following information is provided to the NLIS or PigPass within two days of unsold identifiable livestock being transported from the saleyard:

    • the transaction information for the sold or unsold identifiable livestock

    • the name, business address and PIC of the livestock agent if the livestock were in the possession of a livestock agent before arriving or at the saleyard

    • the PIC of the premises if the identifiable livestock are to be transported from the saleyard to premises 

    • a copy of any NLIS or PigPass movement document created in relation to the transaction

  • ​by the close of business each day that identifiable livestock are sold, record and keep the following information for identifiable livestock that were sold or unsold for at least two years:

    • the number of identifiable livestock sold

    • the number of identifiable livestock that were unsold.

 LTR Fact Sheet Saleyard Operators 

Processing operations

The driver of a transport vehicle must:

  • ​​give the operator of the livestock processing operation a copy of the movement document for the identifiable livestock at, or as soon as possible after, the driver arrives at the premise with the identifiable livestock.

The operator of a livestock processing operation must:

  • ​​keep a record of the following information for 2 years for sheep, goats and cattle and 3 years for pigs when supplied with identifiable stock:

    • the movement document for the identifiable livestock supplied

    • the PIC of the processing premises

  • ​​ensure that identifiable livestock are not slaughtered unless:

    • they have in their possession the movement information for the identifiable livestock to be slaughtered, or

    • an authorised officer or veterinary surgeon directs the slaughter for welfare reasons

  • ​​​ensure the following information is provided to the NLIS or PigPass for any identifiable livestock that are slaughtered at the processing operation by the close of business on the next business day after the slaughter:

    • the transaction information for the slaughtered or transported identifiable livestock

    • a copy of the movement document from a premises that wasn’t a saleyard

  • ​​​​ensure the following information is provided to the NLIS or PigPass for any identifiable livestock that are transported from the processing operation by the close of business on the next business day after the slaughter:

    • the PIC of the premises to which any live identifiable livestock were transported

    • a copy of the movement document from a premises that wasn’t a saleyard

 LTR Fact Sheet Livestock Processors 

Livestock events

The driver of a vehicle being used to transport identifiable livestock must give the operator of the livestock event: 

  • a copy of the movement document for the identifiable livestock at, or as soon as possible after, the driver arrives at the event premises with the identifiable livestock

  • the PIC for the premises to which the identifiable livestock are being transported.

The operator of a livestock event must:

  • ensure that identifiable livestock supplied for the purpose of the event are not sold or disposed of unless they have in their possession the movement information for the identifiable livestock to be sold or disposed of

  • at the conclusion of the event keep a record of the following information for 2 years for sheep, goats and cattle and 3 years for pigs when supplied with identifiable stock:

    • the movement document for all identifiable livestock in involved in the event

    • the PIC of the premises on which the livestock event was held

  • ​​​ensure the following information is provided to the NLIS or PigPass for any identifiable livestock that remain on the event premises for three days or more within 2 days after being transported to or from the event:

    • ​​the transaction information for the transported identifiable livestock

    • the PIC of the premises to which identifiable livestock were transported

  • ​​​​​​ensure the following information is provided to the NLIS or PigPass for any identifiable livestock that remain on the event premises for two days within 2 days as soon as practicable after the identifiable livestock are transported to or from the event:

    • the identification details for the transported identifiable livestock

    • the date they were transported to or from the event premises

    • the PIC of the event premises

    • the serial number of a national vendor declaration for the identifiable livestock.

 LTR Fact Sheet Livestock Events 

Livestock depots

The driver of a vehicle being used to transport identifiable livestock must give the operator of the livestock depot: 

  • ​​a copy of the movement document for the identifiable livestock at, or as soon as possible after, the driver arrives at the depot with the identifiable livestock

A person must not:

  • ​​Accept supply of identifiable livestock from the operator of a livestock depot unless they have provided them with the PIC of the premises to which they will be transported.

The operator of a livestock depot must:

  • ensure that identifiable livestock supplied are not sold or disposed of at the depot unless they have in their possession the movement information for the identifiable livestock to be sold or disposed of

  • keep a record of the following information for 2 years for identifiable stock held or assembled at the livestock depot:

    • the movement document for all identifiable livestock in involved in the event

    • the PIC of the livestock depot

    • the PIC of the premises to which identifiable livestock will be transported

  • ​​provide the following information to a person at the time of supplying a person with identifiable livestock from the depot

    • a copy of the movement document for the supplied identifiable livestock

    • the PIC of the livestock depot

  • ​ensure the following information is provided to the NLIS or PigPass for any identifiable livestock sold at the depot within 2 days of the sale:

    • the transaction information for the sold identifiable livestock

    • the PIC of the premises to which sold identifiable livestock were transported

    • a copy of the movement document for the sold identifiable livestock

  • ​​ensure the following information is provided to the NLIS or PigPass for any unsold identifiable livestock transported from the depot within 2 days of being transported:

    • the transaction information for the transported identifiable livestock

    • the PIC of the premises to which unsold identifiable livestock were transported

    • a copy of the movement document for the unsold identifiable livestock

  • ​​by the close of business each day that the depot is open for business, record and keep the following information for at least two years:

    • ​​​the number and species of identifiable livestock sold at the depot on that day.

 LTR Fact Sheet Livestock Depots 

Livestock supp​ly operations

A person must:

  • give a copy of the movement document for identifiable livestock to the operator of a livestock supply chain operation at the time of supply, or as soon as practicable

  • give the PIC of the premises to which the livestock will be transported to the supply operation before accepting supply of identifiable livestock

The operator of a livestock supply operation must:

  • be in possession of the movement document to supply identifiable livestock to a person

  • give movement information to livestock processing premises by close of business on the date the identifiable livestock are supplied and transported

  • give movement information to a person supplied with identifiable livestock by the next business day after the close of business of the supply operation

  • keep a record of the following information for 2 years for identifiable stock held at the livestock supply operation:

    • the movement information for identifiable livestock

    • the PIC of the livestock supply premises

    • the PIC of the premises to which identifiable livestock were transported

  • ​​ensure the following information is provided to the NLIS or PigPass for any supplied identifiable livestock by the next business day after the close of business of the supply operation (e.g. supplied Thursday then provided by COB Friday):

    • the PIC of the livestock supply operation 

    • the PIC of the premises the identifiable livestock were being held

    • any other PIC where the identifiable livestock were transported and held, and the date of those transfers

  • ​​ensure the following information is provided to the NLIS or PigPass for any sold identifiable livestock on the same business day for livestock sold for slaughter or by the next business day after the close of business of the supply operation:

    • the transaction information for the supplied sold identifiable livestock

    • the PIC of the livestock supply operation 

    • the PIC of the premises the identifiable livestock were being held

    • any other PIC where the identifiable livestock were transported and held, and the date of those transfers

  • ​​ensure the following information is provided to the NLIS or PigPass for any unsold identifiable livestock by the next business day after the close of business of the supply operation on which the unsold livestock were transported (e.g. sale held Wednesday, unsold livestock transported Thursday, details provided by COB Friday:

    • the transaction information for the supplied unsold identifiable livestock

    • the PIC of the livestock supply operation 

    • the PIC of the premises the identifiable livestock were being held

    • any other PIC where the identifiable livestock were transported and held, and the date of those transfers

  • ​​​keep a record for 2 years of the number of identifiable livestock sold on each day the supply operation is open for business.  

 LTR Fact Sheet Livestock Supply Operations 

National vendor declarations and other movement documents

When identifiable livestock are transported or moved, a National Vendor Declaration (NVD) or other approved movement document must be completed and accompany the livestock.

National Vendor Declaration (NVD):

  • National Vendor Declarations (NVD) and electronic NVD (eNVD) are available to accredited members of the Livestock Production Assurance program for cattle and sheep to ensure stock attracts the best price. ​​

  • NVD are key to red meat traceability and market access and a pledge that the red meat has been produced safely, ethically and meets biosecurity standards.

  • ​​For questions about Livestock Production Assured National Vendor Declaration call 1800 683 111.

Generic movement documents:

  • ​Tasmanian Generic Vendor Declarations (GVDs) can be used for all livestock movements. You should check with your saleyard agent, abattoir, or purchaser to see if they require the LPA NVD or the Tasmanian GVD to sell or move your livestock.

 Tasmanian Generic Sheep Vendor Declaration 

 Tasmanian Generic Goats Vendor Declaration 

 Tasmanian Generic Pigs Vendor Declaration 

 Tasmanian Generic Cattle Vendor Declaration 

Post-sale summary:

  • ​​For movements that occur from a saleyard, a Post-Sale Summary is now permitted as an approved movement document for transporting livestock to all properties.

Health Statement:

  • ​​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.

Unsafe cattle:

  • ​​Producers who are unable to tag their cattle in a safe manner, must obtain a permit prior to their ​dispatch. Producers are now required to supply an RFID tag for  each livestock being dispatched without an NLIS tag attached. Please use the application form below:

 Application and Permit to Dispatch Cattle without NLIS Tags

Earless or dairy goats:

  • ​​Producers who are unable to tag their goats due to thin, earless or vascular ears, can now obtain a permit prior to their dispatch. Producers are required to supply an RFID tag for each goat being dispatched without an NLIS tag attached. Please use the application form below:

 Application and Permit to Dispatch Goats Without NLIS Tag Attached 

Contact

Primary Produce Traceability Program

GPO Box 44,
Hobart, TAS, 7001.