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Fears over ear-tag IDs to beef up disease response
30 Jun 2004
Many NSW stock agents, farmers and meat processors fear tomorrow's introduction of the National Livestock Identification System for cattle will cost them a lot of money and bring chaos. Under the system, cattle born from July 1 must be ear-tagged at their birthplaces. It's a system designed to facilitate trace-back if there's a major disease outbreak.
Within the next year, NSW saleyards must install equipment so they can scan and record information about every animal passing through. The system has been tested in Victoria, but one Dubbo stock agent said there were a lot of problems and it could become a "nightmare" at Dubbo and also put costs up.
An Elders stock agent said he believed it's going to cost a lot more than people anticipate. But the NSW Primary Industries Minister responded that in Victoria he saw a "simple, efficient and accurate" system. It's not an option, it's an obligation, Mr Macdonald stated.
Sydney Morning Herald, 30/6/04.
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