Goat producers must comply with traceability requirements

Goat producers are urged to ensure they meet the requirements for goat traceability. Failure to do so is likely to result in the imposition of a more labour intensive and costly system, such as applying a pink post-breeder tag each time stock are sold, according to the Goat Industry Council of Australia.

“We have a chance to demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the current NLIS (Sheep & Goats) through ensuring accurate completion of the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) National Vendor Declarations (NVDs),” says Denise Riches, President of the Goat Industry Council of Australia.

“If we don’t work on ensuring that the current system provides traceability, then our industry will have to implement a more costly and labour intensive program. State Departments are monitoring whether producers are accurately completing NVDs and producers must therefore make themselves aware of their responsibilities.”

“A key challenge we are facing is to ensure that individual producers who are selling goats not bred on their property, list all their PIC numbers on the LPA NVD form, OR identify them with pink post-breeder ear tags,” says Ms Riches.

The system relies on goat producers doing three things before they move or sell goats.

• One: Check that all goats born on your property are tagged with a breeder ear tag. There are some exceptions to the tagging rules in each state, however LPA NVDs are still required.
  
  
• Two: Accurately and completely fill out the LPA NVD for goats, including Question 1 regarding ownership of the goats covered by the LPA NVD.
  
  
• Three: If you are moving or selling goats that were not bred on your property you must list all their PIC numbers on the LPA NVD form, OR identify them with pink post-breeder ear tags. These tags can be purchased where you buy your breeder tags.

The NLIS (Sheep & Goats) underpins the integrity of Australia’s goat industry by allowing fast and accurate identification and traceability in case of a food safety issue or an emergency animal disease outbreak. It ensures that domestic and export consumers have confidence in Australia’s reputation as a producer of safe, quality red meat.

“As an industry we must ensure that the system is accurate and effective. All sections of the industry are working together to make this work well and the first link in the chain is producers doing the right thing by accurately filling out their LPA NVDs,” Ms Riches said.

For more information contact your State Department of Primary Industries.