Beef and dairy farmers

NAIT will be mandatory for cattle from 1 July 2012.

Your NAIT obligations are the same for:

  • finishing cattle
  • breeding cattle and selling store
  • dairy grazers
  • rearer calves.

From 1 July 2012:

  • any cattle you buy should have NAIT-approved radio frequency identification device (RFID) tags. Click here to find out more about the updated tagging rules.
  • you will need to record any off-farm cattle movements with NAIT, unless they are to a NAIT-accredited meat processor or a NAIT-accredited sale yard.

Get ready for NAIT before it is mandatory

You are currently able to buy NAIT-approved radio frequency identification device (RFID) ear tags from your usual rural services supplier.

For calves born from now on, you can use a NAIT-approved RFID ear tag as the primary tag for all off-farm animal movements, other than to slaughter.

For calves less than 30 days ole moving direct to a meat processor, continue to use a meat processor issued tag.

For existing stock, you can currently use a NAIT-approved RFID ear tag as an optional primary tag for animals of all ages to ensure you are compliant when the NAIT scheme becomes mandatory in July 2012. Click here to find out more about the updated tagging rules.

For direct to a meat processor movements for all stock until 1 July 2012, either an AHB-approved (barcode) ear tag or a NAIT-approved RFID ear tag is required. Alternatively, a meat processor's direct-to-slaughter tag can be used as a primary tag until 1 July 2012.