MUCHEA Livestock Centre is among the saleyards and abattoirs in WA set to start scanning electronic identification (eID) tags for sheep and goats as part of the new national traceability system.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) said the milestone was part of the phased introduction of the mandatory system in WA, which would move to full operation by July 1 next year.

The system is being introduced to aid a rapid response to an emergency animal disease or food safety incident, as well as underpin valuable trade relationships and export markets.

The WA Meat Industry Authority (WAMIA) is leading the way with a tested three-way scanning system on a four-way draft at the Muchea Livestock Centre.

The system has been adapted to best fit the saleyard’s operations, following extensive testing and consultation during the pilot.

The state government provided $503,000 from its eID infrastructure grants scheme to help WAMIA to purchase, install and retrofit the equipment.

The state’s $3.52 million grants scheme has funded eID installations at saleyards, abattoirs, export depots and feedlots across WA, alongside smaller allocations to community organisations, such as community resource centres and grower groups.

WAMIA chief executive officer I-Lyn Loo said the new eID system would provide critical data to aid a swift and effective biosecurity response in the event of an emergency animal disease outbreak or food safety incident.

“Following extensive consultation and testing, the new equipment that delivers critical traceability information has been integrated into existing systems – while making sure it’s functional for saleyard staff, agents and other stakeholders,” she said.

“Drawing on our extensive experience in scanning cattle and learnings from the Victorian experiences with equipment, we are ready to scan sheep and goats with eID tags from July 1.”

WA sheep and goat producers continue to adapt to the new system, which requires all sheep and goats born from January 1 this year to have eID tags.

Sheep and goats born before January 1, 2025 will require an eID tag if departing a property or facility from July 1, 2026 onward.

The WA tag incentive payment discount, administered by DPIRD, is supporting the state’s sheep and goat producers as they transition to the new system.

More than 5.8 million eID discounted tags have been sold to date, with the 75 cent per discount to remain in place for all national livestock identification system (NLIS) accredited white eID tags bought before December 31.

Each eID tag contains a microchip that is read via a scanning wand or panel reader, which is uploaded to the NLIS database to record an individual animal’s movements.

WA Sheep and Goat Advisory Group member and Sheep Producers director Elizabeth Jackson commended producers on their uptake of the new eID tags, which she said would aid a smooth transition to the new mandatory system.

“I congratulate producers who have been proactive in adopting eID tags and accessing the incentive payment, which has enabled industry to start using the technology and test the complete system before it becomes mandatory,” she said.

From  July 1 next year all sheep and goats will be required to be eID tagged before leaving any property or facility and will need to be scanned at the point of arrival.