Elders teams across South Australia are holding information days on electronic identification (eID) tags for sheep and goats, after a subsidy was announced by the State Government.
eID tags contain a chip which stores details of the individual animal and the PIC number of its property of origin, allowing for its lifetime movements to be tracked.
SA is gearing up to legislate the implementation of eID tags, following a national approach. As of 1 January 2025, all lambs born in SA must be tagged with a suitable eID tag, and all sheep, lambs and farmed goats must be tagged from 1 January 2027. To help support the cost, the SA State Government is offering subsidies for producers until 30 June 2025. Subsidies of 50 per cent of tagging costs and 75 per cent of necessary infrastructure upgrades will be available.
To help producers understand these changes, Elders branches across SA have been hard at work organising information days. So far, Murray Bridge, Port Augusta and branches across the Eyre Peninsula have held events informing clients of the switch.
Elders Senior Livestock Production Advisor Emma Shattock operates across the Eyre Peninsula, Mid and Upper North SA. She is gearing up for an event on 25 July, run by branches in Jamestown and Burra.
“We are running this event to help our clients navigate these changes,” she said.
“The success of any changes in livestock traceability relies on a shared approach which includes both our staff and livestock producers.
“We are working with our suppliers and the wider industry to bring our clients the best possible information.”
Elders Southern SA Livestock Manager Laryn Gogel explained that the wide-spread implementation of eID tags will carry significant advantages for producers.
“Apart from the benefit of creating a lifetime trail of the individual animal’s movements, this will further expand on the biosecurity factors that will be able to be managed through such traceability,” he said.
“Tracking genetics is made much easier through a digital recording process, eliminating manual functions and records.
“This should enhance profitability for producers through drivers such as fertility, growth, wool production and maternal traits.”
Mid North producers can register for the upcoming information day by contacting the Burra or Jamestown branch.
Meet the team
