Sheep and goat traceability standards are being lifted to protect Victoria’s $6.7 billion livestock industry.
Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford has announced that action and performance levels for Victorian sheep and goat saleyards and processing facilities will be increased from 80 to 90 per cent from 31 March next year.
“Victoria is leading the way with this critical reform and our sheep and goat industries should be commended for the way in which they have embraced the change and made a successful transition to the electronic system”, Ms Pulford said.
Levels were originally set at 80 per cent to facilitate a smooth transition for industry to the new electronic National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) for sheep and goats.
Most saleyards and processors are already achieving read rates close to 100 per cent of the electronic NLIS tags on sheep and goats, so the impact of raising these levels is expected to be minimal.
Sheep and Goats Identification Advisory Committee chair, Stuart McLean said: “Increasing action levels for saleyards and processors on the 31st March 2019 will be very attainable by the industry, particularly with six months to prepare and plan for these changes.”