NAIT update November 2011
Several new tagging requirements have been discussed over the recent months with a variety of companies involved. Most of the deadlines have been shifted but clear guidelines are now emerging.
A National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) scheme is being developed to identify and trace cattle and deer. This scheme will link people, property and livestock providing lifetime traceability to help New Zealand maintain its reputation as a premium producer of primary produce.
Further to meeting these requirements, electronic tags allow farmers to make management choices with great ease that will improve decision-making around genetics, replacement selection, adequacy of feeding, treatment history and much more.
The NAIT law is expected to be passed in early 2012 and with this, RFID tagging will be mandatory from 1 July 2012 for cattle and 1 March 2013 for deer.
What you can do now:
- Begin tagging all young stock, especially calves with NAIT-approved radio-frequency identification (RFID) ear tags. If born after 1 March 2011, the RFID can be their primary tag, with an AHB-approved secondary tag. A NAIT-approved RFID tag is now an optional primary tag for cattle (of any age) for movements other than to slaughter
What you must do once the law is in place:
- Register with NAIT - voluntary from February 2012, but once the law has passed, it will be mandatory
o Register farm or property
o Register PICA (Person In Charge of Animals) who will be responsible for registering animal data online and reporting stock movements and deaths
- Tag cattle (and later deer) with NAIT-approved RFID ear tags
o Secondary tags will be required for all animals except those going directly to slaughter
- Register your NAIT-tagged cattle (and deer)
- Record any deaths of NAIT-tagged animals with NAIT
- Report all stock movements (via phone, internet or via a NAIT-approved information provider of your choice - Totally Vets is investigating becoming a provider)
o To or from other properties, including off-farm grazing
- Animals going direct-to-slaughter
o Bobby calves require only a meat processer issued ‘direct to slaughter' tag
o NAIT-approved RFID tag for all other cattle
Stock movements to NAIT-accredited sale yards and meat processors will not be required to be recorded by the farmers sending the stock. This will be done on their behalf by the NAIT-accredited entities.
The RFID tag is a passive tag that reacts when the scanner sends a signal to it. It does not hold any information other than a 16-digit code. The surface of the tag is marked with this number and your AHB number or participantMINDA code.
If you are not looking at purchasing a scanner to read the RFID tag, you may find it difficult to read the small print in the hairy ears of some animals. To get around this, a large panel secondary tag with a visible number can be linked to the RFID primary tag.
While the NAIT scheme will be web-based, there will be other options for you to carry out some of your NAIT obligations. There will be a paper-based option for movement recording for farmers who do not have reliable internet. Charges will apply for this option whereas using the internet option will be free.
There are numerous opportunities to grasp with this technology and utilizing it could well improve your farm profitability. Make the most of it!
Look out for a direct mail insert in your mailbox from NAIT, giving an update on the NAIT scheme in the coming weeks. Remember for the most up-to-date information you can visit the NAIT website at www.nait.co.nz.
