Sheep tagging reimbursement available for livestock owners

Financial reimbursement to farmers for money spent on electronic identification tags (eID) has had a “pretty good” uptake, according to Biosecurity Tasmania.

All bobby calves sent to slaughter from the start of 2025, most of which go to Tasmanian Quality Meats at Cressy, were required to have the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS)-approved tags.[JB1] 

The Scheme provides a reimbursement of $4.50 per bobby calf processed at an accredited processing facility and ends on December 31, 2025.

Uptake has been steady, according to Biosecurity Tasmania eID Implementation project officer Brittany van Dijk.

“It’s been really picking up with spring calving, however the application process is designed to allow for plenty of flexibility, so producers don’t necessarily have to apply for the reimbursement every time they send a consignment,” she said.

“Some producers have chosen to wait until they have their total for the whole season and just put in one application at the end of the year, so we’re expecting an influx in coming months.”

The reimbursement fully covers the cost of most tags, which contains a microchip to provide proof of origin, and applies to both commercial producers and people who have just a few cattle on a hobby farm.

Tags allow individual cattle to be traced more accurately and efficiently, authorities to quickly respond and recover from emergency animal disease outbreaks, improves consumer confidence in bovine products, strengthens market access and enhances herd monitoring and management.

“We wanted to offer a comparative level of support to that offered to sheep and goat producers  with this scheme only running for one year instead of two, but with the full re-imbursement of the tag, whereas the sheep and goats received a 50% re-imbursement – it’s a shorter time span but of similar value,” Ms van Dijk said.

Having historically been exempt from livestock traceability laws, Biosecurity Tasmania established the Bobby Calf Regulatory Advisory Group in November 2023 to consult with dairy industry stakeholders on the implementation of new Biosecurity (Livestock Traceability) Regulations.

Industry consultation took place from June to December last year and the new requirements were implemented from the start of the year. 

​More information is available on 0447 391 282 or by email at nlis.tas@nre.tas.gov.au​​