The Pastoralists’ Association of West Darling (PAWD) have significant concerns around the introduction of mandatory electronic tagging – known as eID – for sheep and goats and they plan to put the issues to NSW Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders this coming Thursday.
The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) is aimed at ensuring stock can be traced from birth to slaughter, to assist with biosecurity, but graziers claim the system will overwhelm family-owned operations, in terms of cost, safety and time.
PAWD President, Terry Smith, told the Truth, “besides the additional work hours and the extra cost per ear tag [40c to $2 per tag], putting ear tags on wild goats is a real Work Health and Safety nightmare.”
Minister Saunders will be in Broken Hill to discuss concerns from 10.30am to 1:30pm on Thursday at the Civic Centre, 31 Chloride St.
People from all sectors of the sheep and goat industry are invited to attend the free information session, including producers, feedlotters, stock and station agents, advisers and those involved in saleyard, abattoir and knackeries management.
For more information, see the PAWD Facebook page and visit https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/animals-and-livestock/nlis/sheep-goats/guidelines/faqs
