Replace lost devices for lifetime traceability
Prior to leaving their property of birth, it’s compulsory for all Australian cattle and all Victorian sheep and goats to be fitted with an NLIS-approved eID.
From 1 January 2025, it became mandatory for all Australian sheep and goats born in 2025 to be fitted with an eID. For more information about the phased-in rollout of mandatory sheep and goat eIDs nationally, please refer to the Sheep and Goat Traceability Taskforce’s National Implementation Plan.
Replacing a lost tag
Even though all NLIS eID's are tested through rigorous trials for suitability and retention, animals can sometimes lose, pull or knock out an NLIS ear tag meaning the original eID (breeder device) needs to be replaced.
If you find yourself in this situation, it’s important you take action to identify the animal with an NLIS eID before it leaves your property. This will ensure the animal’s traceability on the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) isn’t compromised.
- If the animal is still on the property it was born on, then use an NLIS breeder device.
- If the animal is no longer on its property of birth when the device is lost, an NLIS post-breeder device must be used.
If you are applying a post-breeder device and know the NLIS device number that was lost, you can complete a replacement in the NLIS Database to link the lost device to the new device and retain the lifetime traceability status of the animal.
Choosing the right device
When replacing a device, the colour to use is as follows:
- Cattle - NLIS breeder devices are white and post-breeder devices are orange.
- Sheep and goats - NLIS breeder devices come in a variety of colors (depending on their year of birth) and all post-breeder devices are pink.
Once an animal has been identified, the device should remain with the animal for its lifetime. It is an offence to purposefully remove an NLIS device from an animal and apply another device.
Ensuring lifetime traceability
It’s important to remember that post-breeder devices have a ‘Non-Lifetime Traceable’ status by default on the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database.
To ensure the animal retains its lifetime traceability status, you will need to link the new post-breeder tag to the original breeder tag using the NLIS Database. Refer to this factsheet for guidance on linking the new post-breeder tags in the NLIS.
If you have livestock coming on to your property, you should keep a supply of post-breeder devices on hand to ensure you remain LPA and NLIS compliant in the event of any device losses.
Remember, it is an offence to remove NLIS tags. It is also an offence to use a breeder tag for animals that have been introduced to your property.
Problems with your devices
If you are having retention issues with your NLIS-approved devices, you should contact your eID supplier and they will investigate the issue. The supplier may replace, refund or take other action depending on what the issue is.
If you are unhappy with the supplier’s response, you then have the option to submit a complaint to ISC via this online complaint form on the ISC website. ISC will then investigate the issue.
It’s important to remember that ISC can only investigate issues relating to NLIS-approved tags.